Stepping up education and scientific research cooperation between Vietnamese and Russian universities
In his keynote remarks, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc emphasised that the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation are being strengthened more vigorously than ever. The highest leaders of the two countries have agreed to reposition and elevate bilateral relations across all fields in the new era of development, with education and training identified as a key area of cooperation.
Delegates pose for a commemorative photograph. Photo: VGP/Phuong Nguyen
On behalf of the Party, Government and people of Vietnam, Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Tuc expressed sincere gratitude to the Russian state, government, universities and scientists for the valuable support and friendship they have extended to Vietnam over the years.
The 2024 Agreement on Cooperation in Higher Education between the Government of Vietnam and the Russian Federation, together with the Russian Government’s annual allocation of 1,000 scholarships for Vietnamese students at various levels of study, demonstrates the strong commitment and determination of both sides to promote effective and close cooperation in education, thereby contributing to the development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
Speaking at the conference, Prof. Dr. Tran Hong Thai, President of Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST), noted that in a context of rapid technological change and the transformative impact of artificial intelligence on the way people learn and work, universities can no longer focus solely on imparting knowledge. Instead, they must become centres for developing research capabilities, innovation and technological mastery. Universities should be places where new knowledge and technologies are created, and where new generations of scientists capable of launching start-ups based on research outcomes are nurtured.
Prof. Dr. Tran Hong Thai stressed that this is also a major challenge for developing countries such as Vietnam. If the country merely uses technology, it will remain dependent on it. Only by mastering research capabilities and training highly qualified scientific personnel can Viet Nam gradually gain technological self-reliance and sustainably enhance its national competitiveness. For this reason, Vietnam places particular emphasis on a higher education model closely linked to scientific research and innovation.
Presentations and discussions at the conference reaffirmed that education and training cooperation has always been one of the enduring pillars of the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation. Many generations of Vietnamese officials, experts and scientists were educated in the former Soviet Union and today’s Russian Federation, becoming an important source of human resources contributing to the nation’s development and prosperity.
Translated by Phuong Huyen
Link to Vietnamese version
