Former Deputy PM Vu Khoan honoured with Japanese order

Former Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan will visit Japan on May 8 to attend an awards ceremony for “Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun” - the highest order that Japan confers on foreigners.

The ceremony will take place at the royal palace and the Japanese Emperor will bestow the order on Mr Khoan.

According to the Japanese Embassy in Vietnam, Japan's decision to confer this order on former Deputy PM Vu Khoan is to recognise his contributions to strengthening the relationship between Vietnam and Japan as head of the Vietnamese delegation in negotiations on resuming Japan’s official development assistance (ODA) for Vietnam in 1992.

Since then, Mr Khoan has greatly contributed to developing bilateral ties by promoting economic cooperation and various exchange activities.

In November 2006, former Prime Minister Phan Van Khai also received Japan’s “Grand Cordon of the Order of the Rising Sun”.