In that process, ambassadors play an important role in boosting scientific and technological cooperation between Vietnam and other countries.
Here are opinions of several Vietnamese ambassadors to foreign countries on the cooperation.
Ambassador to Israel Cao Tran Quoc Hai: Hi-tech agriculture - a model of technological transfer
One of the highlights in the Vietnam-Israel cooperation is in science and technology. Israel with strengths in innovation, advanced science and technology is an important partner of Vietnam in the industrialization and modernization process, especially in embarking on Industry 4.0. Currently, hi-tech agriculture is one of the typical models on technological transfer between Vietnam and Israel.
Experienced in agricultural development, Israel can give support to Vietnam to address the shortage of water for agriculture and daily life, improve agricultural productivity, crop varieties as well as quality of post-harvest preservation, promoting productivity and competitiveness of Vietnam’s farm produce in the world.
In fact, many Israeli enterprises are getting involved in currently typical hi-tech agricultural projects in Vietnam, such as the project by VinEco under Vingroup on planting fresh vegetables in green houses in Vinh Phuc, Quang Ninh, Cu Chi and other localities throughout Vietnam.
Besides, information technology (IT), Internet of Things (IoT), cyber security, smart city, health, education, renewable energy, waste management are what Israel has advantages and Vietnam is paying attention to.
Ambassador to Switzerland and Liechtenstein Pham Hai Bang: Shaking hands rather than looking at each other via screens is needed
Switzerland annually hosts a diplomatic conference, also called “conference of ambassadors” because most of its participants are professional diplomats, including foreign ambassadors and other invited guests.
Such a conference is often held on the second week of August in Berne or big cities such as Zurich and Geneva. Before a plenary session, based on real situations in each area, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs also organizes a retreat meeting in some regions. The model of a “retreat and open” diplomatic conference is also applied in several countries. For example, before a diplomatic conference in Seoul, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Korea organized a conference gathering European ambassadors. This year, the RoK’s Ministry is going to hold the conference in London.
Through talks with foreign ambassadors to Switzerland, I know that no country has ever organized a diplomatic teleconference. I used to consult several European ambassadors about such form and they all said that diplomats need to speak directly to each other, to researchers, leaders of ministries and departments at the plenum to work out solutions to issues. Another reason is the secrecy of some topics that could not be discussed online.
An ambassador joked with me that humans were “social creatures” and diplomats were the most “social creature” that would rather shake hands than looking at each other via screens.
Ambassador to Singapore Tao Thi Thanh Huong: Waiting for new driving forces
In the coming time, economic cooperation between Vietnam and Singapore would witness new momenta. Vietnam should boost cooperation with Singapore in the fields that Singapore has strengths in order to promote added value and sustainable development, such as digitalizing the economy, applying hi-technology, building a start-up government, planning smart urban areas, e-commerce services, finance, banking, logistics, clean and renewable energy.
Cooperation in education-training, tourism, labor, culture and people-to-people exchange has been further expanding and developing, contributing to boosting mutual understanding between the two peoples.
It can be said that the Vietnam-Singapore ties have been developing in a lively manner, practically and effectively on all pillars of the two countries’ strategic partnership. The two countries have great potential to support each other for further development.
Ambassador to the Netherlands Ngo Thi Hoa: Realizing major cooperation goals
Vietnam and the Netherlands are coastal countries located in strategic regions. Both have large plains and face challenges of climate change and sea level rise. With its experience and advanced technologies, the Netherlands has gradually assisted Vietnam in agricultural development to meet international standards and ensure food security, and in science-technology transfer, especially in fruit and vegetable cultivation, cattle-breeding and aquaculture.
Since January 2014, the ties between Vietnam and the Netherlands have been promoted from development cooperation to trade partnership with a focus on trade and investment promotion. The two countries’ trade relations have developed continuously with annual increase of more than 20 percent in trade turnover.
Together with enhancing trade and investment cooperation, the two countries have expanded their ties in different fields, such as defense, culture, education-training, and transportation, to name a few.
With great efforts of the two sides, their big cooperation goals in the future will be realized to effectively implement their strategic partnership in water management, adaptation to climate change, sustainable agricultural development and food security. Besides, more advanced Dutch models in sea port management, aviation, waterway transport, hi-tech agriculture, advanced science and technology and smart cities will be applied in Vietnam.
Translated by Mai Huong