Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (third, left) witnesses the exchange of cooperation documents between Vietnamese and Australian universities. (Photo: VNA) In his remarks, the PM highlighted the close and practical friendship between Vietnam and Australia, and the elevation of thebilateral relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership made on theoccasion of his visit.
Chinh called educational cooperation a bright spotin the Vietnam-Australia ties with various achievements gained over the pasttime, contributing to raising personnel quality in service of nationaldevelopment.
Australia is one of the most favourite destinations ofVietnamese students, he said, noting many of them have gained successes andmade significant contributions to national development as well as the bilateralrelations after returning home.
The leader affirmed that Vietnam always pays dueheed to education-training, and human resources development, especiallyhigh-quality personnel, which is also one of its three strategic breakthroughs,along with institution and infrastructure.
Vietnam prioritises attracting foreign investment to education-training, yet such influx remains limited, especially to highereducation, the PM said, stressing that ample room remains for the two countriesto enhance their cooperation in this field, thus maintaining its role as animportant pillar of the relationship and contributing to strengthening the comprehensivestrategic partnership.
To boost the collaboration, the two countries shouldfurther review and perfect relevant institutions, mechanisms and policies, hesuggested.
The Vietnamese government commits to protectinglegal, legitimate rights and interests of foreign educational institutions andinvestors, for mutual benefits, the leader said.
Chinh commended the establishment of a joint workinggroup by the two countries’ ministries of education and training to supportAustralian universities to open their branches in Vietnam.
He also suggested raising the volume and quality ofcooperation programmes between educational institutions of the two countries,with more attention to science-technology research, development and application,and such areas as AI, big data, green energy, and biotechnology, which are Vietnam’sneeds and Australia’s strengths.
Resources should be mobilised and optimised toimplement key projects that are consistent with Australia’s strengths and interest,and Vietnam’s demand, the leader continued.
Chinh expressed his hope and belief that the forumwill open up a new period of educational cooperation between the two countries,and that there will be more Australian educational institutions to operate inVietnam, and diverse, effective cooperation and research forms, with specialattention to projects at the regional level.
At the forum, PM Chinh and representatives fromministries and agencies witnessed the exchange of eight cooperation documentsbetween the two countries’ universities, covering the exchange of students andlecturers, and training in new and important fields like AI, big data,semiconductors, health sciences, environment, digital technology and greenenergy, among others.
More than 80,000 Vietnamese students have studied inAustralia so far, and over 200 Vietnamese and Australian educationalinstitutions have engaged in cooperation programmes./.
VNA
