【Photo Diary】(3) 10-day tour of Switzerland, Sweden, the Philippines, Thailand and Bangladesh
Published on August 19, 2024
I would like to share with you some of the photographs taken during my 10-day European and Asian tour that took me to Switzerland, Sweden, the Philippines, Thailand and Bangladesh from May 27 to June 5, 2024, in my capacity as chairman of The Nippon Foundation and WHO Goodwill Ambassador for Leprosy Elimination.
[May 30, Stockholm and Uppsala, Sweden]
The Nippon Foundation and SJSF launched a grant program in April 2018, designed to support the development of contemporary Japanese studies in five Nordic countries－Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden. She rated it highly as a wonderful and timely program, given the increase in the number of young people in those countries who want to study Japanese culture and society.
SIPRI is an independent international institute dedicated to research into conflict, armaments, arms control and disarmament, best known for its yearbook highlighting the number and types of nuclear weapons in development in the nine nuclear-armed states.
After being briefed on the main activities of the institute, we shared the importance of financial independence of think tanks from the authorities. I proposed that The Nippon Foundation cooperate in SIPRI’s research into geopolitical issues in East Asia, namely those pertaining to China, South Korea and North Korea.
From left, Sylff fellow Ms. Naira Topooco (psychology); Professor of Business Studies and SSC member Linda Wedlin; Dean of the Faculty of Social Science and SSC Chair Joakim Palme; Vice-Rector Tora Holmberg; Professor Emeritus Peter Wallensteen; and fellow Ms. Caroline Brandt (peace and conflict research).
The Sylff program at Uppsala has a very strong track record over many years and has produced many outstanding fellows, according to Sylff News.
(To be continued)