(KPL) The Embassy of Japan to Laos held on Mar 9 in Vientiane a send-off reception for 18 Lao students who will study in Japan on MEXT (Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan) scholarships and JDS PhD programme.

Almost 30 years, the Japanese Government has accepted over 1,000 Lao students to study in Japan under various scholarship programmes such as MEXT, JDS (Japanese Grant Aid for Human Resource Development Scholarship), and YLP (Young Leader’s Programme).

The reception was attended by former President of the Lao-Japan Friendship Association Ponmek Dalaloy, Director General of Student Affairs Department, Ministry of Education and Sports Assoc. Prof. Dr Khamluesa Nuansavanh, and representatives from relevant organizations.

This time, 16 students (eight for master’s degree, six for a technical college, and two for a specialized training college) who are awarded MEXT scholarships and 2 students who were selected by the JDS programme for PhD studies will be sent off.

All these excellent students passed the examination conducted by MEXT and are expected to study in Japan for various numbers of years depending on their courses.

Japanese Ambassador to the Lao PDR, Mr Takeshi Hikihara emphasized in his remarks that what the 18 students will study in Japan should certainly open a perspective for their prosperous future.

He also referred to the importance of seeing the real Japan through their own eyes and talking directly with Japanese people.

He is encouraging the students to continue to be engaged with Japan, expressed his wish that they will become a bridge between Laos and Japan.

Following the remarks from Mr Hikihara, Ms Souphavanh Duangkhamphai, a representative of MEXT students, who will take master’s course in International Development and Cooperation, and Mr Vorlachit Hadaoheuang, a representative of the JDS students, who will take a doctoral course in Law at Kobe University, expressed their gratitude to the Japanese Government for Japan’s generous funding for them to study in Japan on behalf of all the students and renewed their determination to study hard in Japan.

KPL