Minister Bui Thanh Son meets Vietnamese intellectuals and presents medals to Japanese friends

Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son meets with representatives of Vietnamese intellectuals in Japan. (Photo: VNA)

Attending the meeting were representatives of the community of more than 5,000 members of the Association of Vietnamese Intellectuals in Japan (AVIJ), including professors, experts, engineers... from universities, research centers, corporations, and leading businesses in Japan who have achieved many outstanding academic and research achievements, have patents, and highly appreciated scientific research topics.

Speaking after listening to the opinions of experts living, studying and working in Japan, Minister Bui Thanh Son thanked the contributions of Vietnamese intellectuals to the development of the country; expressed his feelings of sincere and deep affection, always towards the Fatherland, expressed through profound sharing, showing the concerns of each individual wishing to contribute to the development of the country and the nation.

Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that he will promptly and fully convey the opinions and practical solutions at this seminar to all levels and sectors in Vietnam, thereby appropriately reflecting them in the Government's general policy.

Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized that the overseas Vietnamese community is an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation and an important resource for the country's industrialization and modernization. The Party, State and Government always pay attention to the overseas Vietnamese community in general and overseas Vietnamese in Japan in particular.

In particular, the Government always attaches importance to and creates the most favorable conditions for Vietnamese scientists and intellectuals abroad to contribute to the overall development of the country, including creating conditions for them to return home to live, work and conduct research.

Sharing about the country's socio-economic situation in recent times, Minister Bui Thanh Son said that although the regional and world situation is still unstable, Vietnam's economy has maintained a positive recovery momentum, achieving important results in many fields. The macro-economy is basically stable, inflation is under control, major balances are guaranteed, creating the basis and confidence to successfully implement the socio-economic development goals for the whole year of 2024 approved by the National Assembly. Vietnam's position and prestige in the international arena are increasingly enhanced.

Currently, the Government is determined to strongly innovate the growth model, restructure the economy, and promote industrialization and modernization with science, technology and innovation as the driving force. New, high-tech industries (semiconductors, artificial intelligence, new energy, etc.) have become the Government's top priority.

In terms of institutions, the Government has issued a National Strategy on AI Research, Development and Application to 2030; and will soon issue a National Strategy on Semiconductor Industry Development to 2030. The Government is currently studying a “one-stop” mechanism and specific preferential policies for the semiconductor sector to support international businesses, experts and investors, contributing to creating momentum for overall growth. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has established a Working Group on promoting the development of the semiconductor industry.

Regarding human resources, the Government aims to train 50,000 high-quality semiconductor engineers by 2030. The Ministry of Education and Training will develop an Action Plan, in which a number of universities are forming training alliances in this field.

Regarding infrastructure, the National Innovation Center (NIC) has been established; Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi and Da Nang have all established high-tech parks and semiconductor research facilities, ready to welcome investors with high incentive policies. The Government is also urgently completing the Plan to implement the Power Plan VIII, strengthening cooperation with international partners, including Japan, in renewable energy and clean energy projects, allowing direct power purchase and sale (DPPA)... to ensure electricity supply.

Sharing the opinions of experts, Minister Bui Thanh Son hopes that the team of experts will continue to take advantage of and utilize knowledge and experience in areas where Japan has strengths and Vietnam needs such as digital transformation, energy transformation, artificial intelligence, high-tech agricultural applications, etc.; strengthen connections between scientists; consolidate the network of domestic and foreign intellectuals through policy consulting; organize forums and seminars with domestic experts, and expand scientific research cooperation.

Minister Bui Thanh Son proposed to study and establish an exchange mechanism between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Working Group on promoting the development of the semiconductor industry and a group of Vietnamese experts and scientists in related fields in Japan to make practical contributions to the common goal.

In particular, the Minister hopes that the team of experts will continue to participate in training domestic science and technology human resources through promoting training cooperation programs between educational and training institutions of the two countries, and mobilizing the participation of Japanese enterprises...

Authorized by the President, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son presented medals and orders to Japanese friends. (Photo: VNA)

* Also on the evening of August 7, on behalf of the President, Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son awarded the Third Class Labor Medal to Mr. Tsutomu Takebe, Special Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Union; the Friendship Medal to Mr. Suga Yoshihide, former Prime Minister of Japan, Senior Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentarians' Union; the Prime Minister's Certificate of Merit to Mr. Yamamoto Ichita, Governor of Gunma Prefecture and Mr. Fukuda Tomikazu, Governor of Tochigi Prefecture; and the Friendship Medal to Mr. Ken Matsuzawa, Chairman of the Council for the Promotion of People's Diplomacy.

Congratulating the Japanese friends on being honored to receive the medals and orders this time, Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized that the signing of the awarding of medals and certificates by Vietnamese leaders this time is a high appreciation and gratitude for the valuable contributions that Japanese friends have made and are making to the country and people of Vietnam as well as the Vietnam - Japan Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

After more than 50 years of nurturing and building, with the foundation of a historical bond of more than 1,000 years, cultural similarities and national character, the Vietnam - Japan friendship and cooperation has achieved many important results with high trust and is in a very good development stage, increasingly substantive and effective, in which the important milestone is that the two countries upgraded their relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in November 2023.

Japan remains Vietnam's leading economic partner, the number 1 partner in ODA cooperation, number 2 in labor, number 3 in tourism and investment, and number 4 in trade. Cooperation in the fields of labor, human resource training, and local cooperation is increasingly close; cultural and people-to-people exchanges are increasingly close. The two countries are also making efforts to promote the expansion of cooperation into new areas such as digital transformation, green transformation, semiconductors, innovation, etc.

Minister Bui Thanh Son emphasized: “To achieve remarkable progress and proud achievements over the past 50 years, we must mention the strong leadership of senior leaders who have always devoted their love, attention, and promoted the Vietnam - Japan relationship until their hearts stopped beating, such as the late General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the late Prime Minister Abe Shinzo, as well as other senior leaders of the two countries, including former Prime Minister Suga Yoshihide.”

Minister Bui Thanh Son believes that in the coming time, Japanese friends will continue to support and contribute more to the sustainable development of the Vietnam - Japan cooperative and friendly relationship.

Speaking at the ceremony, Mr. Tsutomu Takebe, Special Advisor to the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance, expressed his honor and pride to receive the Third Class Labor Medal. Mr. Takebe shared his profound memories in the process of promoting the relationship between the two countries in recent times, and affirmed that he will continue to make efforts to contribute more to the Japan-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership./.