Japan’s ambassador to Cairo Masaki Noke delivered the Japanese Foreign Minister’s commendation certificate to the Director of the Japanese Language Department at the Ahram Canadian University in Cairo, Egypt, Karam Khalil Salem, on Monday.

The handover ceremony was attended by the university’s President Farouk Ismail and the Dean of Faculty of Languages and Translation Mona Fouad, according to a statement by the Japanese embassy. 

The Japanese Foreign Minister’s commendation certificates are awarded to individuals and groups with outstanding achievements in international fields. The contributions put forth by such individuals are acknowledged by the promotion of friendship between Japan and the countries in which those receiving the certificate are involved.

The honour came in recognition of Salem’s ongoing efforts to promote Japanese studies in Egypt and the formation of a cordial relationship between Japan and Egypt.

Since the attainment of a Doctorate in Japanese studies from Tsukuba University in 1988, Salem has devoted himself to Japanese studies, including language and literature, a statement by the Japanese embassy said. His career and contributions have left an impact in several distinguished universities, including Cairo University, Ain Shams University, Aswan University in Egypt and King Saud University in Saudi Arabia.

During the ceremony, Noke extended his appreciation and praised  Salem for his dedication and contribution in the promotion of  Japanese studies in Egypt, which has led to enhancing the understanding of Japan and its culture in Egypt. Noke also congratulated for his new position as the Director of the Japanese Language Department in Ahram Canadian University and expressed his gratitude for the newly established department while adding that he has high expectations in the education that will be offered.

The ambassador also extended his appreciation to the to the President and Dean of the university for the establishment of the department and stressed his readiness for future cooperation and collaboration in the improvement of Japanese language education in Egypt in hope that hoping it would lead to strengthening bilateral relations between the two countries.

Salem expressed his appreciation for the certificate and reiterated his eagerness to continue to act as a bridge between Japan and Egypt, specifically in the educational field.  

The Ahram Canadian University is the seventh university in Egypt to establish a Japanese department afte after Cairo University, Ain Shams University, Misr University for Science and Technology, Benha University, Aswan University and Al-Azhar University.