ONEHEALTH FOUNDATION STRENGTHENS HUMAN-RESOURCE AND COMMUNITY COOPERATION WITH NOSHIRO CITY, JAPAN

Chairman Dr. Nguyen Huynh Dang Khoa meets the Mayor of Noshiro City and the Chairman of the Noshiro Chamber of Commerce and Industry during the Foundation’s official return visit to Akita Prefecture

As part of its continuing commitment to international cooperation, the OneHealth Foundation delegation conducted an official visit to Noshiro City in Akita Prefecture, Japan.

The visit marked an important continuation of the relationship established in 2024 between OneHealth Foundation and regional chambers of commerce and industry in Japan. The cooperation focuses on responsible human-resource development, healthcare and nursing education, professional internships, cultural exchange, and the creation of long-term opportunities benefiting communities in both Vietnam and Japan.

During the visit, Dr. Nguyen Huynh Dang Khoa, Ph.D., Chairman of OneHealth Foundation, met with Mr. Akatsuki Nabeya (鍋谷 暁), Mayor of Noshiro City, and Mr. Shoji Sato (佐藤 肇治), Chairman of the Noshiro Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

Noshiro City’s official profile identifies Mr. Nabeya as the city’s current mayor. He assumed office on April 23, 2026, following experience in the private sector, as a parliamentary secretary, and in his family business.

A Meaningful Exchange Reflecting OneHealth Foundation’s Values

During the official meeting, Dr. Khoa presented Mayor Nabeya with a commemorative gift representing OneHealth Foundation’s guiding principles of:

Compassion – Altruism – Felicity

The presentation symbolized the Foundation’s belief that international partnerships should extend beyond institutional agreements. They should be founded on mutual understanding, sincere friendship, social responsibility, and a shared commitment to improving people’s lives.

For OneHealth Foundation, gift exchanges during official visits are not simply ceremonial. They provide an opportunity to share Vietnamese culture, express appreciation to international partners, and communicate the humanitarian values that guide the Foundation’s work in healthcare, education, and community development.

The meeting also reflected a shared interest in developing practical cooperation that responds to the needs of both countries, particularly in the areas of healthcare personnel, nursing and elderly-care education, professional training, internships, and regional workforce development.

Strengthening Cooperation with the Noshiro Chamber of Commerce and Industry

The delegation also met with Mr. Shoji Sato, Chairman of the Noshiro Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The Chamber’s official information identifies Mr. Sato as its 15th chairman and confirms that he is serving a second term. He is also Representative Director and President of Noshiro Shigen Co., Ltd., a company based in Noshiro City.

During the gathering, Mayor Nabeya and Chairman Sato presented Dr. Khoa with traditional local gifts from the Noshiro area. The exchange represented the warmth and hospitality of the city and highlighted the importance of cultural understanding in building sustainable international relationships.

The participation of both municipal and business-community leaders demonstrated the comprehensive nature of the partnership. Rather than concentrating only on workforce placement, OneHealth Foundation seeks to establish an ecosystem involving local government, chambers of commerce, healthcare and elderly-care providers, educational institutions, employers, and community organizations.

Building on the 2024 Partnership

The official visit was a return engagement following cooperation initiated in 2024 between OneHealth Foundation and Japanese regional partners.

In October 2024, the Japan Chamber of Commerce and Industry reported that the Noshiro Chamber of Commerce and Industry had entered into an internship-dispatch cooperation arrangement involving OneHealth Foundation and healthcare and nursing educational institutions in Asia.

The initiative was designed to connect Vietnamese healthcare and nursing students with internship opportunities at elderly-care organizations in the Noshiro and Ōdate areas. The model emphasized educational exchange and professional experience rather than the treatment of international participants merely as a source of inexpensive labor.

According to OneHealth Foundation’s delegation records, the broader cooperation process also included inspection and exchange activities involving representatives connected with Japan’s Parliament, with particular attention given to human-resource cooperation between Vietnam and Japan.

The return visit provided an opportunity to review the progress made since the original partnership and to discuss how the cooperation could be expanded through more structured, transparent, and sustainable programs.

A Responsible Human-Resource Cooperation Model

OneHealth Foundation believes that successful international human-resource cooperation must protect the dignity, welfare, and professional development of every participant.

Future cooperation between OneHealth Foundation and its Japanese partners may include:

• Healthcare, nursing, and elderly-care internships for qualified Vietnamese students
• Japanese-language and cultural preparation before departure
• Professional orientation and skills development
• Cooperation between Vietnamese educational institutions and Japanese employers
• Appropriate supervision and safeguarding of interns and trainees
• Knowledge exchange between healthcare and elderly-care professionals
• Employment pathways based on qualifications, transparency, and fair treatment
• Community-integration programs for Vietnamese participants in Japan

This approach reflects OneHealth Foundation’s commitment to ensuring that human-resource programs create balanced value for students, educational institutions, employers, and host communities.

Connecting Healthcare, Education, and Regional Development

Japan and Vietnam share significant opportunities for cooperation in healthcare and human-resource development.

Japan has extensive experience in elderly care, nursing management, healthcare technology, and community-based support systems. Vietnam has a growing generation of healthcare and nursing students who are interested in international education, professional development, and opportunities to contribute to societies facing workforce and demographic challenges.

By connecting these complementary strengths, OneHealth Foundation seeks to help build a cooperation model that is ethical, mutually beneficial, and capable of delivering sustainable social impact.

The partnership also has the potential to contribute to wider regional development by supporting local healthcare and elderly-care providers, strengthening international understanding, and creating lasting connections between Vietnamese participants and Japanese communities.

Advancing Friendship Between Vietnam and Japan

The official visit to Noshiro City represented another important step in the growing relationship between OneHealth Foundation and its Japanese partners.

OneHealth Foundation expresses its sincere appreciation to Mayor Akatsuki Nabeya, Chairman Shoji Sato, the Noshiro Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and all participating organizations for their hospitality, friendship, and commitment to continued cooperation.

Guided by the principles of Compassion, Altruism, and Felicity, OneHealth Foundation will continue working with partners in Japan to develop responsible initiatives in healthcare, education, human-resource development, cultural exchange, and community well-being.

Through mutual respect and coordinated action, the Foundation hopes that this partnership will create meaningful opportunities for future generations while strengthening the enduring friendship between Vietnam and Japan.

Dr. Nguyen Huynh Dang Khoa, Ph.D. (left), Chairman of OneHealth Foundation, presents a commemorative gift to Mr. Akatsuki Nabeya (right), Mayor of Noshiro City, during the Foundation delegation’s official visit to Akita Prefecture, Japan.

Mr. Shoji Sato (left), Chairman of the Noshiro Chamber of Commerce and Industry; Mr. Akatsuki Nabeya (centre), Mayor of Noshiro City; and Dr. Nguyen Huynh Dang Khoa, Ph.D. (right), Chairman of OneHealth Foundation, during a traditional gift exchange in Noshiro City, Japan.