Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son (fifth from right), EU Ambassador Julien Guerrier (fourth from left) and other officials pose for a group photo at the working session.

Vietnam and EU step up educational cooperation

Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Kim Son hosted a working session on May 10 in Hanoi with Ambassador Julien Guerrier, head of the EU Delegation to Vietnam, to discuss ways to ramp up educational cooperation between Vietnam and the EU.

At the meeting, the EU diplomat expressed his positive impressions of Vietnam’s remarkable development achievements, partly attributing the results to education - training contributions.

He thanked the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training for supporting the organization of the Asia-Pacific Regional Summit on the ERASMUS+ program last year, adding that during the 2015 - 2023 period there were over 3,400 Vietnamese students participating in the ERASMUS+ scheme.

He went on to express his hope that the two sides would coordinate in deploying collaborative activities and raise their budget for this program moving forward, cited VOV.

The ambassador briefed his host on the EU’s EUR300 billion Global Gateway strategy to boost sustainable links worldwide, and said Vietnamese partners would also benefit from the fund, with priorities to be given to promoting infrastructure-related fields such as energy, transportation, education, and research.

Vietnam is currently leading Asia in capacity building programs in higher education with 85 education projects capitalized at over EUR66 million, he stressed, while affirming his desire to continue to contribute to further improving the quality of Vietnamese higher education.

For his part, Son spoke highly of the ERASMUS+ scheme which has provided young Vietnamese people with numerous learning opportunities.

The Minister welcomed the bloc’s decision to prepare a draft Letter of Intent on education co-operation between both sides, and expressed his hope that the EU Ambassador would enhance coordination efforts in organizing conferences at regional and international levels within the framework of the Asia-Europe Meeting of Ministers for Education.

According to Son, the Government of Vietnam is keen on fields such as semiconductor technology, biotechnology, new energy, and artificial intelligence. He expected that the Ambassador would support connectivity between Vietnamese and EU universities in these spheres.

Vietnam eyes contingent of competent entrepreneurs

Vietnam aims to have 2 million firms by 2030 which will contribute 65-70% of gross domestic product (GDP), 32-38% of the total number of jobs, and 98-99% of the total import-export turnover, according to a newly-issued Government action program to implement the Politburo’s Resolution on building and promoting the role of the contingent of Vietnamese entrepreneurs in the new era.

The action program also aims to have about 20 - 25% of businesses owned by women, and 30 - 35% having female directors or leaders. The number of businesses ranked among those with the highest brand value by prestigious ranking organizations in the world will increase by 10% each year. At least 10 Vietnamese businessmen will be on the list of world billionaires, and five voted as the most powerful businessmen in Asia by prestigious organizations by 2030.

By 2045, the country is aiming to form and develop a contingent of Vietnamese entrepreneurs with capacity and qualifications that meet national development goals, according to VNA.

Overview of the National Conference of Vietnamese Entrepreneurs and Business Associations in 2023. Photo: VNA

To that end, the Government requested more efforts to raise awareness of the position and role of businessmen in implementing the country's development goals, complete policies and laws, and create a favorable and equal investment and business environment for entrepreneurs and enterprises.

Attention will be paid to building ethics and business culture, promoting national spirit, and inspiring the desire to develop a prosperous and happy country; and strengthening solidarity, cooperation, and connectivity between businessmen, workers, farmers and intellectuals.

In addition, efforts will be made to promote the role of the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and the Vietnam Association of Small and Medium Enterprises; and intensify the Party's leadership and State management in building and promoting the role of the entrepreneur contingent.

Vung Tau to host large-scale sea and island festival for first time

A Vietnamese sea and island festival will be held in Vung Tau city of southern Ba Ria-Vung Tau province on a large scale for the first time, said organizers at a press conference on May 10.

Tran Dinh Khoa, secretary of Vung Tau provincial People’s Committee, said the event will serve to honor and preserve coastal cultural heritage values, stimulate domestic and international tourism demand, and promote local economic development.

Photo: VOV

An art performance program, which will take place in the evening on May 25, will make up the highlight of the festival.

Visitors will also have the chance to sample fresh seafood and beverages at a trade fair consisting of 300 booths, according to VOV.

The event will introduce traditional dishes made from rice originating from the southern region such as banh khot (molded rice cake), and bánh canh (rice noodle soup cooked in southern style).

An array of activities will be organized on May 23 - 24 during the festival, including Minishow The Luminous Harmony Show, a yoga performance and talks which seek to highlight the importance of Vietnam’s seas and islands, as well as to introduce marine economic strengths.

In particular, an Ao Dai (traditional long dress) parade on May 24 on Quang Trung coastal road in Vung Tau city will help to honor the beauty of the Vietnamese costume. As many as 500 people wearing Ao Dai will be arranged in an S shape to create a beautiful image of the country and to assert Vietnamese sovereignty over the Hoang Sa (Paracel) and Truong Sa (Spratly) archipelagos.

Vietnam, China to open new border gate pair

The local authorities of Binh Lieu and Hai Ha districts in the northeastern province of Quang Ninh (Vietnam) and Fang Cheng Zone in China’s Guangxi province have agreed to hold a ceremony to mark the official opening of Hoanh Mo - Dong Zhong Border Gate pair this month.

The agreement was reached during talks on May 9 between the two local authorities.

The opening is of significance in terms of politics, economy, and culture between Quang Ninh province and the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, VGP reported.

Hoanh Mo border gate in Quang Ninh province. Photo: congthuong.vn

The border gate pair is expected to build a border of peace, stability, friendship, cooperation, and development and promote border trade via the Hoanh Mo - Dong Zhong border gate pair and the Bac Phong Sinh – Lihe crossing.

Quang Ninh has signed 26 provincial-level agreements with Chinese localities. Via these cooperative ties, the province has gradually established itself as “a gateway, a bridge” in the Vietnam - ASEAN - China cooperation, helping to achieve major outcomes in almost all areas, especially cross-border economic and trade partnerships, road transport, border gate opening and upgrade, border management, and the fight against cross-border crimes.

Vietnamese farm produce introduced at int'l fair in Italy

Vietnamese agricultural products were on display at the 41st edition of Macfrut, an international trade fair for the fruit and vegetable sector, in Rimini city of Italy's Emilia-Romagna region from May 8 to 10.

The Vietnamese pavilion exhibited fruits, processed products, along with various types of tea, spices and medicinal mushrooms, drawing the attention of visitors.

Speaking at a networking event held as part of the fair, Renzo Armuzzi, a representative of the Italian Ministry of Agriculture, wished to invite Vietnamese ministries and businesses to visit high-tech agricultural models of the Emilia-Romagna region to explore cooperation opportunities in farm produce processing, storage and transportation.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Duong Hai Hung (third from the right) and Vice Chairman of Lang Son province People's Committee Doan Thanh Son (fourth from the right) meet with Chairman of Macfrut Renzo Piraccini (second from the right) (Photo: VNA)

President of Macfrut Renzo Piraccini applauded Vietnam’s continuous attendance at the fair and expressed his willingness to support so that localities and businesses of both sides can connect with one another and seek partnership opportunities, cited VNA.

The fair drew the participation of more than 1,400 exhibitors, of which 40% came from abroad, making Macfrut 2024 the largest international agrifood fair in the European country.

It also featured many panel discussions on development trends in the agricultural sector and new innovations.

Vietnamese exhibitors said the fair provided an important opportunity for them to introduce their products to the world, get updates about market demand, meet potential partners, access new agricultural technologies and grasp the latest trends in the production, processing and trade of agricultural and food products.

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