First Vietnamese doctor received Nikkei Asia Prize

(VNF) - Professor Nguyen Thanh Liem won the 23^rd Nikkei Asia Prize 2018 in the Science and Technology category, at a ceremony in Tokyo, Japan on June 13^th, becoming the first Vietnamese to be honoured with the prize in this area.

Nguyen Thanh Liem (far left), along with Ma Jun (centre) and Bindeshwar Pathak, at the awards ceremony for the 23^rd Nikkei Asia Prizes at Tokyo's Imperial hotel on June 13^th. (Photo: Nikkei Asian Review)

He is a leading expert in paediatric surgery in Vietnam and used to serve as the director of the Vietnam National Children’s Hospital, one of the country’s major paediatric centres. The doctor has made special contributions to paediatric endoscopic techniques, and invented nine surgical techniques entirely different from those currently utilised across the world.

His fame is also associated with a number of surgeries used in separating conjoined twins in Vietnam, which have been considered the most complicated operations nationwide.

Many surgeons in children’s treatment, domestic and foreign, have trained under his guidance.

The Award was presented by Naotoshi Okada, President & CEO of Nikkei Inc., Liem is among the three who have been decorated with the award. The other two recipients of the 23^rd Nikkei Asia Prizes are Ma Jun, founding director of Institute of Public & Environmental Affairs (IPE), Winner for Economic and Business Innovation; and Padam Bhushan Dr. Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International, Winner for Culture and Community.

Prime Minister Of Japan Shinzo Abe Day also met the winners on Tuesday.

Nikkei Inc., one of the largest media corporations in Japan, has been presenting the awards since 1996 in commemoration of the 120^th anniversary of Nikkei Inc.'s main Japanese-language newspaper, The Nikkei. They honour people in Asia who have made significant contributions in one of the three areas: Economic and Business Innovation; Science, Technology and Environment; and Culture and Community. It aims to give light to people and organisations that contributed to the development and prosperity of Asia.

Recipients may be an inpidual or a group or organisation in any Asian country, except Japan, and they are awarded three million yen (USD 28,000) along with a certificate./.

VNF