Strengthening cooperation with French partners
At a meeting with CNRS, after hearing reports from VAST specialized institutes and CNRS partners, the VAST President and CNRS President appreciated the results of the cooperation achieved between VAST and CNRS since the signing of the cooperation agreement between the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the French National Center for Scientific Research in 1983. Beginning with the exchange of scientists in some basic sciences such as mathematics, physics, chemistry and calculation control, so far, the cooperation has covered most natural sciences and technology. Hundreds of projects have been conducted with the participation of Vietnamese and French researchers. Many themes have gained theoretical as well as practical results, contributing to solving socio-economic problems in Vietnam.
Forms of cooperation are increasingly diversified, ranging from the exchange of scientists and international programs for scientific cooperation (PICS) to the building of international associated laboratories (LIAs). Especially from 1997 to 2014, the two sides jointly organized 15 French – Vietnamese Do Son classes. This was one of the forms of successful cooperation between the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the French National Center for Scientific Research, which is a model of collaborative training that needs to be expanded. Apart from the French-Vietnamese Do Son classes, hundreds of conferences, seminars, classes on physics, materials, chemistry, mechanics, mathematics and geology were conducted in VAST research institutes and CNRS units.
During this visit, VAST President Prof. Chau Van Minh and CNRS President Prof. Antoine Petit expressed their hope that the cooperation between the Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology and the French National Center for Scientific Research would be strengthened. The VAST and CNRS presidents confirmed their intention to resume Do Son class in 2019, develop LIA projects, promote cooperation in research and teaching in fields of strengths of the two sides such as physics, materials, mathematics, marine studies, natural compounds chemistry, erosion of materials, ecology, biological resources and the environment.
President Chau Van Minh and President Antoine Petit agreed to celebrate the 35th anniversary of scientific cooperation between VAST and CNRS in Vietnam in 2018. In order to confirm the increased cooperation, the signing ceremony of the international associated laboratories (LIA) project on functional corrosion-protective materials (FOCOMAT) took place, witnessed by VAST and CNRS scientists.
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| The official meeting between VAST and CNRS delegations | Prof. Antoine PETIT receives Prof. and Academic Chau Van Minh in the office |
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| Prof. and Academic Chau Van Minh and Prof. Antoine PETIT signs LIA on FOCOMAT | Prof. and Academic Chau Van Minh and Prof. Antoine PETIT confirms the increased cooperation between VAST and CNRS |
During the visit to CNRS, the VAST delegation came to work with the lab of the Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, CNRS. Representatives of the "French-Vietnamese collaborative laboratory on natural compounds chemistry" presented the results of research and training achieved between scientists of VAST and scientists of CNRS. The delegation visited the laboratories of chemical analysis, tested biological activities, and visited the testing workshop of the Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, CNRS.
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| The VAST delegation visits and works with the Institute of Natural Products Chemistry of CNRS | Ambassador Nguyen Thiep receives Prof. and Academic Chau Van Minh and Airbus representative at the Vietnamese Embassy in France |
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| VAST delegation visits testing workshop of the Institute of Natural Products Chemistry, CNRS | Prof. and Academic Chau Van Minh witnesses t he signing of a five-year operation of the VNREDSat1 satellite on the orbit, between the Vietnam National Space Center and the Airbus Group |
During the visit, the delegation visited the Northern Paris Headquarters in Bondy of the IRD; worked with the Paris Institute of Ecological and Environmental Sciences; discussed and proposed potential projects and funding opportunities.
On April 23, 2018, the delegation had a meeting with Airbus Group during which it discussed and signed the minutes of evaluation of VNREDSat1 satellite operation in orbit, and agreed to have a report reviewing the 5 year operation of VNREDSat1. On the same day, the delegation came to work with the Embassy of Vietnam in France. Prof. and Academic Chau Van Minh informed Ambassador Nguyen Thiep about the working visit with French partners of the VAST delegation, and asked the Embassy to coordinate and support the cooperation activities of VAST with the French partners.
The visit to CNRS, IRD and Airbus by the VAST delegation ended successfully, contributing to reinforcing and promoting the cooperative relationship, and stepping into a new period of cooperation between VAST and French partners.
Translated by Phuong Huyen
Link to Vietnamese version
