German medical professor honoured
German medical professor Horst Klinkmann has been decorated with an Order of Friendship in recognition of his remarkable contributions to Vietnam’s healthcare sector and the Vietnam - Germany relations.
On behalf of the President of Vietnam, Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu presented the country’s highest award for foreigners to the 87-year-old in a ceremony held in Berlin on January 5.
The diplomat showed his gratitude towards Klinkmann for his tireless contributions to Vietnam and the bilateral ties. Throughout his life, the German professor has dedicated to saving people’s lives and constantly nurturing the Vietnam-Germany partnership in not only health care but also economy, culture, sports and education, he highlighted.
Klinkmann, for his part, expressed his pride for the honour, saying he expects the friendship and partnership between the two peoples will expand further in the future. He also said he was impressed with Vietnamese people’s desire for independence which motivated him and his companions to work together to promote friendship with and provide support to Vietnam.
A student and then a lecturer at the University of Rostock, one of the oldest universities in Germany, Prof. Dr. Horst Klinkmann provided active support for the first Vietnamese medical students in the university after the restoration of peace in Vietnam in 1954.
Klinkmann has helped promote the Vietnam-Germany links in education and medicine, reflected by the establishment of the Viet-Duc Friendship Hospital and Nghe An’s Vinh General Hospital, and deliver much-needed medical supplies to Vietnam when the country was in difficulty because of blockade in the past.
