On April 13, Kobe University, with the cooperation of the Foreign Trade University (FTU), established a liaison base for education and research exchange in Vietnam on the FTU campus in Hanoi, Vietnam. The liaison base in Hanoi is the third international base for Kobe University, following the Kobe University China Office established in Beijing, China, in 2008, and the Kobe University Brussels European Centre (KUBEC) established in Brussels, Belgium, in 2010.

Professor FUJITA Seiichi, Executive Vice President in charge of Education, and Professor INOUE Noriyuki, Executive Vice President in charge of International Exchange, visited FTU for the signboard unveiling ceremony. The ceremony was attended by Professor Vu Hoang Nam, Director of the Department of International Affairs at FTU, and Professor Nguyen Thi Thanh An, the Japanese Faculty Lecturer at FTU. Among the other participants from FTU were administrative staff members and students. After the ceremony, both Professor Fujita and Professor Inoue paid a courtesy visit to Prof. Dr. Hoang Van Chau, President of FTU, and had a fruitful discussion on future activities.

Japanese language education is now widespread in Vietnam, and the number of Vietnamese students enrolled in Kobe University is on an upward trend. Upon their return to their home country, many find employment in Japanese companies established in Vietnam. The country is experiencing rapid economic growth. By using its new liaison base in Hanoi, Kobe University is committed to making a valuable contribution to Vietnam through education and research exchange, as well as offering support to prospective international students in the country.