Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has promised to create favourable conditions for overseas Vietnamese scientists to participate in scientific and technological projects at home so that they can make contributions to the country’s socio-economic development.

In a meeting on August 19 with overseas Vietnamese talents in science and technology who came home to attend Vietnam’s innovation network programme from August 18-24, Prime Minister Phuc thanked the scientists for their interest in developing science and technology in the homeland.

Briefing the country’s situation, the Government leader stressed that Vietnam’s business climate and competitive capacity have improved in recent years, and the Government has paid due attention to science and technology, considering it as a key to enhance labour productivity.

Particularly, the era of Industrial Revolution 4.0, which revolves around big data, open platform, robot, and artificial intelligence, will open huge opportunity for Vietnam to better economic performance, improve livelihoods of people as well as ensure national territory and security, he said.

“This is a good opportunity for Vietnam to keep up with developed countries in the world”, he said, noticing that “There will be no progress without innovation”.

In that spirit, PM Phuc asked the scientists to join hands in building e-Government in Vietnam, and assist the Government to handle challenges that the fourth industrial revolution brings about as well as other social issues like labour, protection of children’s rights, citizen rights, cyber attacks, among others.

The Government will focus on cooperation, investment, technology transfer, and human resource training, and continue developing innovation eco-system to ensure that overseas Vietnamese scientists can contribute to the nation’s development, he said.

“Your intelligence will flourish in our country, and make the nation move forward”, the PM stressed.

Meanwhile, Minister-Chairman of the Government Office Mai Tien Dung expressed his hope that the scientists will involve in building e-Government in the country towards a modern and smart administrative system, serving the country’s development process.

Pledging to accompany the government in the era of industry 4.0, which converges labourers 4.0 and culture 4.0, the scientists said that they want to coordinate with domestic colleagues in specific projects and programmes.

They recommended that more investments should be made in basic research to create a science-technology market. In addition, the government was advised to build a favourable legal corridor for the digital economy, especially e-Government, as part of efforts to develop science and technology.

More policies should be put in place to lure additional overseas Vietnamese intellects to devote their talent to the country, they said.-VNA