Hiroshi MATSUMOTO, the 25th President
Good morning ladies and gentlemen. My name is Hiroshi Matsumoto, president of Kyoto University, and it is my great pleasure to welcome you to Kyoto for the Second Japan – Vietnam University Presidents' Conference.
As I am sure you are all aware, yesterday marked the first anniversary of the devastating earthquake and tsunami disaster, which struck the Tohoku region on March 11, 2011. It has been an extremely trying year for Japan, and through these difficult times, our people are very grateful for the help that we continue to receive from the international community, including, of course, our East Asian neighbors such as Vietnam. Practically as soon as the earthquake struck, our country received generous offers of support and assistance from the Vietnamese government and the Vietnam Red Cross.
That is one example of how, amidst the tragic suffering caused by the disaster, we have also witnessed the strength and compassion of the human spirit, as the Japanese people, aided by our international friends, strive, with courage and compassion, to cope with the crisis and survive. It is in times such as these that we most fully understand the value of the bonds which form our communities – local, national and international.
His Excellency Mr. Nguyen Tan Dung, the Prime Minister of Vietnam visited Japan at the end of October last year. During the trip he personally visited some of the disaster-affected regions, and also met with Yoshihiko Noda, the prime minister of Japan and expressed Vietnam's sympathy and support in the wake of the disaster. Prime Minister Noda spoke to Prime Minister Dung about Japan's determination, in this time of national crisis, to strengthen our ties with the international community as we recover and rebuild. He also expressed his hope that, through the recovery process, Japan would reshape itself into a more dynamic and internationally open country.
Higher education and research have a significant part to play in the recovery process, and in ensuring that we can move forward with the wisdom to avoid and mitigate similar tragedies in the future. The strengthening of international ties that our two prime ministers discussed is exactly what we aim to do at this very conference.
On a more personal note, it is my belief that the partnership between our two countries will be greatly enhanced by certain qualities which are shared by both the Vietnamese and Japanese people. I know, for example, that Japanese researchers hold the abilities of their Vietnamese colleagues in very high esteem. Particular praise is given to their sharp innovative thinking, as well as their earnestness and diligence.
I think that this reputation in the academic world is the result of inherent national characteristics, which have historically been exhibited by the Vietnamese people. It is reminiscent of the tough dynamic spirit that we Japanese associate with our country's postwar period: a period in which we achieved unprecedented economic and social advancement, and which is commonly referred to as "a miracle."
It is my hope then, that our two countries will be able to harness those dynamic and resilient qualities in our cooperative endeavors, not only in education, but also in the spheres of business and industry. The next two days will provide us with excellent opportunities to share ideas, network, forge new partnerships and consolidate old ones. It is my sincere hope that at the end of these two days, every single participant will walk away from this conference with new ideas, new colleagues and new friends.
Thank you very much for your attention.