33rd Diplomatic Conference: Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung highlights progress in science and technology diplomacy
WVR - Science and technology diplomacy is expected to play a pioneering role in opening pathways, connecting, and creating, enhancing scientific and technological capabilities, boosting national internal strength, ensuring technological security, and elevating Vietnam's position on the international stage in the new era.
Latest
 |
| Politburo Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung delivers the opening speech at the discussion session “Science and Technology Diplomacy Contributing to Building National Development Capacity”. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
This was affirmed by Politburo Member and Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung in his speech at the discussion session “Science and Technology Diplomacy Contributing to Building National Development Capacity” held on the afternoon of August 5 as part of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung stressed that in the opening speech of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference, General Secretary and President To Lam emphasized that foreign relations are a crucial method to promote the renewal of the development model, enhance capacity, competitiveness, and autonomy of the economy. Science and technology diplomacy must become a regular task. Building a network of technology partners, connecting research institutes, universities, businesses, and experts; monitoring new trends, standards, and policies; bringing appropriate knowledge and technology back to the country. Diplomacy should not only seek capital but also knowledge, talent, and effective methods.
Recently, under the close leadership and direction of the Party and Government, along with effective coordination between ministries, sectors, and localities, especially the proactive collaboration between the Ministry of Public Security and the Ministry of Science and Technology, following the issuance of Resolution 57, Minister Le Hoai Trung pointed out that science and technology diplomacy has made significant new strides with four notable highlights as follows:
First, it has contributed to establishing frameworks and deepening scientific and technological cooperation with partners, especially leading strategic partners in science and technology such as the United States, Russia, China, the European Union (EU), Japan, Republic of Korea... expanding the space for cooperation in research, innovation, digital transformation, and future technologies.
Second, efforts to connect with technology corporations, research institutes, universities, and international investors with Vietnam have been strengthened, opening up many opportunities for research cooperation, development, and training of high-quality human resources.
Third, Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad have become more proactive in supporting localities, businesses, research institutes, and universities in seeking partners, expanding cooperation networks, and participating in the global technology value chain. This includes successfully connecting domestic localities, businesses, institutes, and schools with international partners; forming numerous specific collaborations in fields such as AI, semiconductors, data centers, high technology...
Fourth, promoting and connecting the intellectual resources and expertise of overseas Vietnamese has become increasingly in-depth, gradually forming a knowledge network that directly contributes to the development of the country's science, technology, and innovation.
The State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese has built a database with approximately 5,000 experts, intellectuals, and overseas entrepreneurs. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs and representative missions have also connected and received proposals from more than 200 Vietnamese experts and expert groups abroad in fields such as quantum technology, semiconductors, microbiology...
 |
| General Luong Tam Quang attends and delivers a directive speech at the discussion session “Science and Technology Diplomacy Contributing to Building National Development Capacity”. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
Alongside the achievements, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung also candidly acknowledged the difficulties and challenges.
Specifically, in some areas, science and technology diplomacy remains primarily focused on policy exchange, training, and study tours. Activities related to technology transfer, forming investment projects, joint research ventures, or establishing international research and development (R&D) centers in Vietnam have not yet matched their potential.
Simultaneously, the connection between domestic needs and international resources has not been truly synchronized. The coordination mechanism between sectors, localities, businesses, and representative agencies abroad still has limitations, lacking proactivity in monitoring and promoting the implementation of international commitments, failing to meet the demand.
Therefore, the Foreign Minister underscored: “Today's session is not merely about reviewing opportunities or signing documents, but about clearly identifying the challenges in national development, to choose the right partners, the right technologies, the right methods, and the right directions for cooperation.”
 |
| Overview of the discussion session. (Photo: Quang Hoa) |
On this basis, the Head of the Foreign Affairs sector hopes that in today's discussion session, delegates will focus on two main points:
First, clarifying the priorities and actual needs in science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation of domestic agencies, localities, businesses, institutes, and schools. Assessing the new context and proposing solutions to enhance effective coordination between domestic units and Vietnamese Representative Missions abroad. This is the innovation in thinking and approach to diplomacy serving science and technology that brings practical results.
Second, clearly identifying the difficulties, obstacles, and challenges that need to be addressed in international cooperation on science and technology, thereby proposing key focuses, priorities, and new approaches to enhance the effectiveness of science and technology diplomacy in the future.
