Rector of the Agricultural University of Tirana (UBT), Prof. Dr. Fatbardh Sallaku, hosted the ambassador of Japan in our country, Kikuko Kato, in a meeting.

During the meeting, Ambassador Kato exchanged views with UBT Rector Sallaku on promoting cooperation between academic institutions in the field of agriculture and food.

“Honored to welcome Ambassador Kikuko Kato of Japan to the Agricultural University of Tirana as part of the ‘Read Japan Project’ aimed at donating books to the Scientific Library ‘Mentor Përmeti’ at UBT,” stated the rector in his speech.

During the meeting, proposals for cooperation between counterpart academic institutions were discussed, aiming to establish new connections between two distant countries with the goal of enhancing sustainable development in the fields of agriculture and education.

Vice Rector for Science and Projects, Prof. Dr. Erinda Lika, highlighted the interest of PhD students and academic staff in conducting scientific research in the field of artificial intelligence in agriculture. She emphasized the importance of joint research projects, academic exchanges, and specialized training opportunities for both students and academic staff.

The ambassador expressed enthusiasm for the meeting and the potential future collaborations it may lead to. Following the meeting, a book donation ceremony was held at the Scientific Library “Mentor Përmeti” at UBT. Rector Sallaku and the Head of the Library, Renata Bardhi, expressed their thanks and gratitude for this generous gesture from the Embassy of Japan in Albania.

A total of 157 books in English have been donated to UBT. These books cover various topics including agriculture, nature, literature, culture, etc. The donation is made possible by the Tokyo Foundation for Policy and Research with the support of the Nippon Foundation.

The purpose of this donation, supported by the Japanese Embassy in Tirana, is to facilitate a closer connection between Albanian students or readers and Japan. It aims to promote interest and foster opportunities for cooperation between the academic institutions of the two countries in terms of education, scientific research, exchange of knowledge, expertise, etc.

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