TOKYO (AFP) - Japan's Prime Minister Naoto Kan Wednesday congratulated two Japanese scientists -- Ei-ichi Negishi and Akira Suzuki -- awarded the 2010 Nobel Chemistry Prize shared with an American researcher.

"I am very delighted that the two received the Nobel Chemistry Prize," Kan told reporters.

Kan said that on hearing the news he immediately telephoned Suzuki, a professor emeritus at Hokkaido University on the northern main island of the same name, and congratulated him on his achievement.

"Mr Suzuki then requested that the government make better use of Japan's science and technology capabilities, which are at the top of the global standard," Kan said.

Suzuki and Negishi, who is based at Purdue University of Indiana shared this year's chemistry prize with Richard Heck of the United States for pioneering research in linking carbon atoms.

The Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences lauded the trio's work in "the development of palladium-catalysed cross coupling."

The jury said the tool "vastly improved the possibilities for chemists to create sophisticated chemicals," and had applications in medical, electronics and agricultural fields.

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