Participating in the discussion were nearly 30 Vietnamese scientists who have currently worked in universities and research universities all over Australia, representatives from the Ministry of Education and Training, officials from the Representative Office of Science and Technology in Canberra and some officials from Viet Nam’s Embassy in Australia. The Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam in Australia, Mr. Lương Thanh Nghị came and chaired the discussion.
Delivering a speech in the discussion, Ambassador Lương Thanh Nghị said that Viet Nam – Australia comprehensive partnership relations, including the S&T cooperation, have currently been developed very well, especially have been strengthened after the official visit paid by Prime Minister Nguyễn Tấn Dũng last March. So far the two countries have actively implemented the Cooperation Agreement on S&T signed in 2013, firstly the focus would be in sharing information, implementing joints research themes, transferring technologies and training for scientific staff. Ambassador Lương Thanh Nghị highly appreciated practical contributions made by Vietnamese scientists in Australia over the past time, which would promote the country’s socio-economic development.
This is the first time this type of discussions has been organized by the Representative Office of S&T, Viet Nam’s Embassy in Australia to listen to ideas/comments of Vietnamese scientists in Australia for the country’s S&T development cause, especially in the context the Viet Nam is the process of current deep economic integration. In addition, this was the opportunity for sharing two-way information on Viet Nam’s priorities for S&T development, policies on attracting Vietnamese scientists in foreign countries to participate in S&T activities in Viet Nam, S&T strengths in local countries and strengthening linkages among Vietnamese scientists in Australia.
In the discussion, the scientists, who were experts in many different fields focused their active discussions on some topics such as direct participation in S&T activities in Viet Nam, support for technology transfer into Viet Nam, implementation of joint research cooperation themes, support for improving research skills for Viet Nam’s young scientists, forms of connecting the network of S&T collaborators in Australia. Ideas and comments from discussions of the participants expressed and affirmed that commitment of Vietnamese scientists in Australia has always been towards their home country, willingness to contribute their strengths and dedication for Viet Nam’s S&T cause. In addition, the participants also discussed frankly and commented on many issues relating to State mechanisms and policies on mobilizing the contribution of Vietnamese scientists in foreign countries; effective usage of research themes; creation of linkages between experts inside and outside the country; methods to attract post-graduate students to do research with Vietnamese professors and lecturers in Australia, establishment of database on scientific experts ... with hopes to contribute part of their “intelligence” to the country’s current renovation. This discussion was one of activities in order to implement policies on attracting Vietnamese scientific experts in foreign countries according to our State’s common directions.
Delivering a conclusion speech, Ambassador Lương Thanh Nghị hoped that after this discussion, linkages of Vietnamese scientists in Australia would be more closed and the Representative office of S&T would be really the bridge between scientists inside and outside the country. The Vietnamese Ambassador in Australia hoped very much to receive support and enthusiastic participation of Vietnamese scientists in Australia to shorten time of doing research, using new technologies tor the country’s modernization and industrialization as well as promote the development of S&T cooperation between the two countries, contributing to strengthen and promote Viet Nam – Australia comprehensive friendship and cooperative relations.