04 September 2004	Saturday	18 Rajab 1425

LAHORE, Sept 3: Osaka University of Foreign Studies, Japan, seven students led by their head Prof So Yamane visited the Punjab University New Campus on Friday.

Mr So Yamane, an old student of the PU's Urdu department, has recently been awarded Pride of Performance Award by the government of Pakistan for his excellent services in the promotion of Urdu language in Japan.

During a meeting with PU vice-chancellor Arshad Mahmood, Mr Yamane discussed signing of an agreement for academic cooperation and exchange between the two universities.

The VC briefed him about the international and regional language courses being offered by the PU and desired to start Japanese language programme at the PU's Oriental College.

Mr Yamane told the VC that Osaka University's Urdu department was producing 20 students every year. In Japan, he said, 99 universities were working in the public sector. He invited the PU's Urdu department students to visit Osaka University.

The VC presented shields and university prospectus to the delegation members. PU Urdu department chairman Prof Dr Tahseen Firaqi was also present on the occasion.