General Secretary: Science and technology cooperation is an important pillar to elevate Vietnam-Korea relations

General Secretary To Lam and delegates attend the seminar on Vietnam-Korea science and technology cooperation. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

According to the special correspondent of VNA, within the framework of the State visit to Korea, on August 12, in Seoul, the Ministry of Science and Technology , the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Vietnamese Embassy in Korea in coordination with the Ministry of Science, Information and Communications Technology of Korea organized a seminar on Vietnam-Korea science and technology.

The seminar was attended by General Secretary To Lam and the high-ranking Vietnamese delegation, along with many scientists, managers and business leaders of the two countries.

This is the first time the two countries have held a high-level discussion to create a framework for close strategic cooperation on three key growth drivers: science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.

Speaking at the seminar, Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung said that Vietnam identified the trio of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation as the central driving force to turn Vietnam into a high-income developed country, contributing at least 50% to the growth of Gross Domestic Product (GDP).

Vietnam has established the Central Steering Committee on Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Transformation, headed by General Secretary To Lam, demonstrating Vietnam's highest determination.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized that Vietnam wants Korea to share its experience on the path of development based on technology, especially high technology, emerging technology and core technology.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung shared that Vietnam has increased the state budget for science and technology, innovation and digital transformation , from 1% to 3% per year and is expected to continue to increase. Vietnam is also amending laws on high technology and technology transfer, including strong incentive policies for foreign investors transferring technology to Vietnam; hoping that Korean foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises will spread technology through the establishment of training and research and development centers in Vietnam.

With great aspirations, aiming for a growth rate of over 10% continuously for the next 10 years, Vietnam has amended laws, mechanisms, policies, changed the national administration apparatus and model, to create development, promote startups, attract investment; at the same time, increase investment for development, especially science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.

Therefore, Vietnam becomes a more attractive destination for Korean investors; wishes to cooperate deeply with Korea in emerging technologies such as semiconductors, electronics, telecommunications, artificial intelligence (AI), quantum, new energy, biology, nano, cyber security; build joint research and development programs; promote technology transfer between enterprises, research institutes, universities; develop research and development centers, train high-tech engineers; learn from the model of developing a startup ecosystem and innovative startups; policies to support small and medium-sized enterprises in technological innovation.

Regarding the development of digital government, digital infrastructure and digital sovereignty, Vietnam wishes to cooperate with Korea in implementing digital government platforms, building national data centers, and cooperating in ensuring cyber security, digital sovereignty and national digital governance capacity.

At the seminar, Korean delegates shared experiences in implementing digital transformation in Korea; innovation in Korean small and medium enterprises and Korea's strategy.

At the same time, representatives of Korean research institutes, universities, and technology enterprises also proposed cooperation with Vietnamese enterprises, universities, and research institutes; cooperation in research and development of rare earth recovery and production technology; technological support for small and medium enterprises, etc.

General Secretary To Lam attends the seminar on Vietnam-Korea science and technology cooperation. (Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA)

Speaking at the seminar, General Secretary To Lam emphasized the importance of developing science and technology, taking the “miracle of the Han River” as evidence for economic development through science and technology, innovation and digital transformation, and expressed his confidence and suggested that the two countries consider this an important and strategic pillar of cooperation in the Vietnam-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The General Secretary stated that Vietnam has built a strategy for science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation, identifying science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation as key driving forces, enhancing national competitiveness, and making Vietnam a developed, high-income country.

Vietnam focuses on policy making, human resource training, financial investment and promoting international cooperation to develop science and technology.

The General Secretary emphasized that Vietnam focuses on investing heavily in education and training high-quality human resources, especially those in new fields such as AI; attracting Vietnamese scientists and experts abroad to contribute to the country's development.

The General Secretary affirmed that he attaches great importance to cooperation with foreign partners such as South Korea to access advanced technology, learn from experience and find "shortcuts" to catch up with the world's development; devotes significant financial resources to scientific and technological research and development, aiming to create breakthroughs; encourages connections and cooperation between schools, research institutes, enterprises and the state, creating favorable conditions for initiatives and research projects to be put into practice, production and business.

The General Secretary said that the transition from processing cooperation to technology transfer, research and development cooperation is necessary and proposed that Vietnam and Korea take advantage of each side's advantages to develop together, bringing practical benefits to the people of the two countries.

Affirming that scientific and technological cooperation is identified as an important pillar to elevate the Vietnam-Korea bilateral relationship in the coming time, the General Secretary believes that the Vietnam-Korea Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will develop increasingly substantively and effectively, bringing comprehensive and sustainable benefits to the two countries./.

(Vietnam News Agency/Vietnam+)

Source: https://www.vietnamplus.vn/tong-bi-thu-hop-tac-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-la-mot-tru-cot-quan-trong-nang-tam-quan-he-viet-han-post1055279.vnp