Professor Xuan is a Vietnamese scientist and leader of world stature. His research into and development of Vietnam's agriculture turned the country from rice importer to the second largest exporter of rice in the world and provided new, higher­income farming systems for Mekong farmers. He has served as adviser and governor on many eminent boards around the world, including the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research Policy Advisory Council, the Asian Institute of Management, the International Rice Research Institute and the Rockefeller Foundation. He has worked closely and effectively with Australian scientists ever since diplomatic relations were restored.