(VOVworld) - Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Pham Xuan Son on Monday awarded Order of Friendship by President Truong Tan Sang to Russian academician Mikhail Leontievich Tirarenko, Director of Far East Division for his contribution to Oriental studies. Under the helm of Titarenko since 2009, the Far East Division of the Russian Academy of Sciences has contributed significantly to the research and cooperation with Vietnamese institutions and research centres, strengthening the bilateral solidarity and relations. The Far East Division has been listed among the top research centres for Far East and Asia development issues.