The high-level discussion on “Solutions on promoting innovations for development – Sharing experience between Vietnam – Sweden", with the participation of Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh, Ms. Ann Linde – Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and Trade, Deputy Minister of Health Le Quang Cuong, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Bui Van Ga together with many representatives of the two countries.
The participants in the signing ceremony of the Letter of Intent, Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh, Minister for EU Affairs and Trade, Ms. Ann Linde, Deputy Minister of Health Le Quang Cuong, Deputy Minister of Education and Training Bui Van Ga (From the right to the left). Photo taken by Loan Le.
Delivering a speech in the discussion, Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh emphasized “Sweden is a nation which has dominant advantages in comparison with those of Vietnam regarding the scale and potentials of the economy, innovation indicators on the top positions of EU and the world”.
Emphasizing on investments in S&T human resourced and infrastructure of Vietnam over the past time, with 3 national high parks, 8 centralized industrial zones, 12 high-technology applied agricultural zones, 16 national key laboratories... The Minister said that regarding the scale and potentials, Vietnam has had many advantages for the two parties’ cooperation.
Accordingly, the Minister proposed three directions for cooperation, including:
Implementing joint research and development cooperation tasks among research institutes and universities of the two countries in fields from which Sweden and Vietnam have strengths an demands, especially in fields of information technology, high-technology applied agriculture, environmental protection and climate change response;
Promoting technology transfers and exchanges of delegations consisting of managers, scientists, businesses and investors of Vietnam and Sweden and vice versa. Creating favorable conditions for Vietnam’s businesses to absorb and master high technologies from Sweden in fields which Vietnam has demands as improving transportation infrastructure and smart urban; post-harvest and food processing technologies; human resource training and development.
Promoting exchanges of delegations consisting of managers, scientists, businesses and investors of Vietnam and Sweden; Sweden supports Vietnam in training Vietnam’s S&T researchers, managers and policy makers.
Highly appreciated achievements Vietnam has gained over the past time, Ms. Ann Linde - Swedish Minister for EU Affairs and Trade said that Sweden would always be willing to share its experience and cooperation with Vietnam.
"We have been improved with the progress Vietnam has achieved. We want to share with Vietnam the experience Sweden has had to promote innovation and growth. We believe that these efforts would promote relationships between the two countries as well as competitiveness of the two nations through partnership programs between the two countries and continue its contribution to Vietnam’s development "– Ms. Ann Linde said.
Ms. Ann Linde shared, in the past Sweden was one of Europe’s poorest countries but currently it is one of the world’s leading countries in innovation.
"We have a continuous driving force for innovation. In the context that our digital world is changing very fast, we continue making efforts and promoting the economic growth. Achievements in innovation in different technology fields have supported Sweden to significantly change " – Ms. Ann Linde.
"In order to strengthening capacity of the economy as well as those of the society we continuously mobilize contributions of all relevant stakeholders from businesses to research institutes. Therefore, the tripartite relation has become the core and focus for Sweden’s every success. The relationship among the Government, businesses and research institutes has become indispensable tool, which leads our economy’s growth" – Ms. Ann Linde said.
After the discussion, the two parties agreed to together sign the Letter of Intent to establish strategic partnership relations in scientific research and technology and capacity building between the two parties./.