President Tran Dai Quang met in Hanoi on May 11 with Vietnamese and foreign scientists attending the seminar themed “Science for development” that took place in Quy Nhon city, the central province of Binh Dinh on May 9-10. 

President Tran Dai Quang meets Vietnamese and foreign scientists

The event was part of the “Meet Vietnam” programme on the occasion of its 25th founding anniversary. 

The President lauded achievements that the “Meet Vietnam” Association has scored over the past 25 years. 

He thanked scientists, politicians, policymakers and corporate executives for actively joining activities of the programme which is a bridge connecting Vietnamese and foreign scientists, making important contributions to Vietnam’s science and education. 

The Vietnamese Party and State always pay attention to science and education development, considering it the top national policy and a driving force of the country’s sustainable development, he said.

The President praised Binh Dinh province for supporting the association and putting into operation the International Centre for Interdisciplinary Science and Education since 2013, turning the locality into a destination for annual meetings of domestic and foreign scientists. 

He recalled the memory in June 2016 when he visited the centre and expressed his appreciation for helpful contributions of the association, Prof. Tran Thanh Van and his spouse Prof. Le Kim Ngoc. 

The leader hoped that ministries, agencies will continue partnering with Binh Dinh province and the association to develop the centre in service of science and education not only in Binh Dinh, the central provinces and the entire nation. 

He also asked foreign scientists to continue supporting the programme and assisting Vietnam in science and education for the country’s sustainable socio-economic development. 

The 14th “Meet Vietnam” attracted 55 foreign scientists and other delegates, including two Nobel laureates in physics and economy, contributing to popularising images of Vietnam and its people to international friends. 

Over the past 25 years, Meet Vietnam, initiated by Prof. Tran Thanh Van and his spouse Prof. Le Kim Ngoc, has attracted thousands of well-known scientists, including Nobel, Fields and Kavil laureates. 

The “Meet Vietnam” Association also worked closely with the Sponsoring Association for Vietnamese Children in France led by Prof. Le Kim Ngoc to build three SOS children’s villages in Da Lat in 1974, in Hue in 2000 and Dong Hoi in 2006, and establish the scholarship fund “Meet Vietnam – Vallet”.

VNA