Vietnam hosts 7th US-Vietnam science and technology joint committee meeting

(for illustration only. Photo: Vietnam+)

PANO - The Ministry of Science and Technology hosted the 7^th meeting of the Joint US-Vietnam Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (JCM) pursuant to the Agreement on Scientific and Technological Cooperation (S&T Agreement) on December 9th and 10th in Hanoi.

The US delegation of approximately forty scientists, researchers, and policymakers, led by Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Oceans and International Environmental and Scientific Affairs Daniel Clune, traveled to Hanoi to meet with Vietnamese counterparts, including over 40 government officials, scientists and researchers to review progress on S&T cooperation and share ideas for future cooperation.

This year’s JCM marks the 10^th anniversary of the signing of the S&T Agreement.

“The US regards Vietnam as a strong partner in science, technology, and innovation,” Clune said. “The Vietnamese and US scientific communities are working together to address today’s global challenges in areas such as climate change, marine and environmental science, disaster preparedness, agriculture and biotechnology, and health. Our fruitful discussions over the past two days are testament to our partnership in these areas.”

At the conclusion of the JCM, representatives from the US Department of the Interior and the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Environment signed an MOU on scientific and technical cooperation in earth sciences and effective management of natural resources in the context of climate change. The signing of this MOU exemplifies the growing US-Vietnam cooperation to respond to the threat of climate change.

This year’s JCM also featured a special workshop on incubating S&T-based enterprises, with US speakers from Intel Corporation, QSI Corporation, the University of California, Los Angeles, and the University of Hawaii, highlighting the important role bilateral S&T cooperation plays in Vietnam’s economic development.

Ambassador Michael W. Michalak delivered closing remarks, recalling his own roots as a scientist and highlighting “the need for free exchange of academic and scientific knowledge and ideas, and the importance of moving ideas to markets.”

Mai Huong