Workers at a factory in Vietnam. Photo: Bao Dau Tu

The agreement was inked online at the headquarters of the Vietnamese Embassy in Berlin in the presence of representatives of the Ministry of Science and Technology, the National Startup Support Center (NSSC), and a support network of Vietnamese science and technology offices abroad, according to VOV.

Under the agreement, both sides have agreed to provide information and consultancy on activities related to science, technology, and innovation, including the organisation of co-operation programmes and the implementation of joint projects.

Addressing the event, Tran Hai Thanh, first secretary in charge of science and technology at the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany, highlighted support of the intellectual network and Vietnamese community in Germany for the development of science and technology at home.

At the signing ceremony. Photo: VNA

The diplomat added that over recent times the VGI has attracted the participation of numerous experts, intellectuals, and scientists, many of whom have contributed to connecting Vietnamese technology experts in Germany with German individuals, groups, and companies to support sci-tech development in Vietnam.

The newly-signed agreement is expected to connect Vietnamese intellectuals abroad, optimise human resources, promote innovation and start-ups at home, while simultaneously ramping up co-operation in science, technology, and innovation among partners of the two countries, he noted.

Impressive achievements of Vietnam-Germany's recent economic relations

Vietnam-Germany economic relations have achieved many impressive results in recent years. Germany is Vietnam’s largest trading partner in Europe, representing nearly 20% of Vietnam’s exports to the European Union (EU), and is also an important transit gateway for Vietnamese goods to the market. Two-way trade turnover reached more than US$10.24 billion in 2019, with Vietnam enjoying a trade surplus. Germany is a big market, consuming many Vietnamese products, including telephones, computer parts, footwear, coffee and farm produce.

For Germany, Vietnam is a potentially fast growing market in Asia. As of May 2020, Germany has 361 valid projects in the country with a total registered capital of US$2.06 billion, ranking fourth among EU countries and 18th out of the 132 countries and territories investing in Vietnam, said NDO.

Germany is one of Vietnam’s most important partners in vocational training. The country has assisted the Vietnamese Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs in developing a national vocational training strategy, drafting the Law on Vocational Training, as well as opening vocational training schools according to Germany’s parallel vocational training model. In terms of development cooperation, Germany has provided more than US$2 billion for ODA projects in Vietnam since 1990 through technical and financial cooperation, with technical cooperation projects implemented in the form of nonrefundable aid.

German experts support the implementation of the project to clean the wall of Ngo Mon (Noon Gate) of the Hue Imperial Citadel. Photo: NDO

In addition, bilateral collaboration in culture and education-training has been growing consistently. Over recent years, cultural and artistic exchanges between the two countries have taken place in a vibrant fashion. Germany has supported Vietnam in implementing a number of projects on conservation and restoration of cultural heritages in the ancient capital of Hue, as well as in archaeological research.

With regards to education-training, there are about 300 Vietnamese postgraduates receiving research scholarships in Germany, and more than 7,000 Vietnamese students are studying at German universities. Moreover, since 1993, through the German World University Service (WUS), the Hessian State Ministry for Science and the Arts has granted 150 scholarships annually to students with excellent academic results at some colleges and universities in Vietnam.

Ambassador Guido Hildner affirmed on December 23 last year when the two countries celebrated the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties that Germany and Vietnam have become cohesive on the basis of their long-standing friendship and close partnership. The 45-year journey, according to the ambassador, was a clear testament to that sound relationship. Based on the established foundations and with the determination and relentless efforts of the two countries’ leaders and peoples, Vietnam-Germany friendly relations and cooperation promise to grow further and attain greater achievements in the near future.

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