12 August 2002

Ha Noi, Viet Nam: The Honorary Ambassador of the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, Mr. Takehito Nakata of Japan, today began a five-day visit to Viet Nam to promote the work of the United Nations and UNV.

During his visit to Viet Nam, the UN Volunteers Honorary Ambassador will go to the field and see volunteers in action. He will also meet with representatives of UN agencies, donors, civil societies and representatives from leading ministries, including the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Planning and Investment.

"Mr. Nakata's visit to Viet Nam aims to promote the concept of volunteerism and volunteering activities among UN Volunteers and development partners across the Government and UN agencies," said Mr. Jordan Ryan, UN Resident Coordinator and UN Development Programme (UNDP) Resident Representative. "We expect Mr. Nakata's presence to give further weight to the already significant respect and regard accorded volunteers working in Viet Nam."

Viet Nam is the 26th country Mr. Nakata has visited in his capacity as Honorary Ambassador. He has long wanted to visit Viet Nam and remarked that "the best things are left for last". He added, "I am glad to be able to see first hand how Viet Nam overcomes difficulties through its reform process. I have a great respect for Vietnamese culture and traditions. I am always standing by the people of Viet Nam."

"Mr. Nakata's presence in Viet Nam symbolizes the importance that UN Volunteer programme places on the country, not only as a host of an increasingly large number of UNVs, but also as a potential supplier of volunteers to serve in other countries," said Mr. Nguyen Xuan Thuan, Acting Chief of Asia, Pacific, Europe & CIS (APEC) Section of UN Volunteers headquarters in Bonn, who is accompanying the Honorary Ambassador.

Mr. Nakata has been the Honorary Ambassador to United Nations since 1993, following the assassination of his only son, Atsuhito Nakata, in the course of his duties as a UNV District Electoral Supervisor with the UN Transitional Authority in Cambodia (UNTAC). Mr. Nakata abandoned his successful business career in order to follow his son's example in promoting the UN and UN Volunteers' vital work.

In the nine years since Mr. Nakata became an Honorary Ambassador for the UN Volunteers, he has undertaken over 1,500 speaking engagements for the UN Volunteers and the UN throughout Japan. Mr. Nakata's work in the international community has been recognized at the highest levels of the Japanese Government. Each year he undertakes at least one field mission for UN Volunteers, travelling to such countries as India, Somalia, Mongolia and Cambodia. On behalf of the UN Volunteers he has traveled extensively throughout Africa, Europe, Latin America and Asia.

Mr. Nakata also established the Atsuhito Nakata Memorial Fund to support and encourage international volunteers worldwide in terms of morale and finance. Recently, the UN Volunteers received a donation of US$100,000 from the Memorial Fund for its work in the area of human security.

Last year, 67 UN Volunteers served in Viet Nam, including 37 Vietnamese nationals. These volunteers contributed to Viet Nam's development by working in a wide range of professions, from rural development projects in remote provinces to central Government Ministries in Ha Noi.