The delegation visited and worked with the Presidential Board of Russian Academy of Sciences (RAN). The two parties exchanged opinions, reviewing the process of cooperation between the two Academies in the past, exchanging content and methods of the upcoming cooperation, and signing a Cooperation Agreement. Attending the talks, representatives of RAN included Academician D. Nhekipelov, Vice President of RAN; Dr. Markianov, Director of International Cooperation Department; and academicians who are the director of specialized institutes such as the Institute of Language Studies, Institute of Ethnography, Institute of Economics, Institute of World Economy and International Relations.
In the orientation of cooperation contents, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang emphasized that Russia is playing a more important role, being an important member of G.8, G.20, BRICS, having joined WTO. Russia is making policy adjustments towards the Asia-Pacific region; East Asia and ASEAN are increasingly important for Russia. The comprehensive cooperation relationship between Russia and Vietnam also has many positive movements. In the current period, Vietnam is also actively implementing development strategy to 2020 following the Resolution of the 11th Congress of the Vietnamese Communist Party. Especially in the context of the global financial crisis and economic downturn, Vietnam is stepping up the process of economic restructuring, transforming the growth model from a wide to a deep one, considering sustainable development as the key objective to ensure the economic, social, environmental, cultural sustainability and political stability.
The two parties affirmed that in the new development context of the two countries, the role and duties of the two Academies open up various opportunities to promote cooperation between the two parties for the development goals of each country as well as for the deeper cooperation relationship, strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia in the coming period. The two parties agreed to search for and exploit different resources for cooperation and to renew forms of cooperation.
Upon agreeing the contents, Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang and Academician Nhekipelov signed the Agreement. The signing ceremony of Cooperation Agreement between VASS and RAN was held solemnly. On behalf of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, Ambassador Ho Xuan Son witnessed and highly appraised the cooperation between the two Academies, and hoped this relationship would contribute to boost the comprehensive cooperation between the two countries. The Embassy of Vietnam will create favorable conditions to strengthen and develop the scientific cooperation between Vietnam and Russia.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang respectfully invited the leaders of RAN and Russian scientists to participate in the International Conference on Vietnamese Studies, which will be held in Hanoi, November 2012.
Later, the delegation visited and worked at Mongolian Academy of Sciences (MAS). The leaders of MAS respectfully received the VASS delegation. The President of MAS, Academician B. Emkhtuvshin warmly welcomed the delegation, insisted that this is an important event as the senior leadership delegation of VASS have visited Mongolia for the first time. President of MAS introduced the Mongolian Academy of Sciences, which plays an important role in the development strategy of the country. The development program to 2030 submitted by MAS has been passed by the Mongolian National Assembly and the Government. MAS currently has more than 800 scientists out of a total of 1,100 staff, 10 social science research institutes out of the 22 research institutes, getting the annual funding of about 2% of the state budget.
Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang briefly introduced VASS, which has 32 research institutes, with more than 1,900 staff, being divided into four areas of study, namely: social sciences, humanities, international studies and regional development research. Currently, VASS is participating in the amendment of the Vietnam Constitution after more than 25 years of innovation, socialist-oriented market economic transformation, in building the socialist legistimate state and socialist democracy.
VASS is participating in building the sustainable development strategy to 2020, the vision to 2030 to implement the resolutions of the Eleventh Congress of the Communist Party, restructuring the economy, renovating the growth model, ensuring rapid and sustainable economic, political, social, cultural and environmental development. VASS involves in completing the social security policies, addressing social issues such as income, employment, social insurance, social allowance, social services, etc. There is also a series of issues such as regional and international affairs; climate change; conservation of history, culture; trans-border co-ethnic issues; religious issues, migration, etc.
The sharing of experiences and discussion of cooperation contents focused on such areas as studies on the international and regional contexts, relations with major countries, impacts on the economy, politics, security, society and culture of the two countries; trans-border co-ethnic issues; labour and human resource cooperation; response to climate change; archaeology, history, linguistics. The contents of the agreement focused on scholar exchange; the exchange of documentation, information, publications and research outcomes; construction of joint research programs, projects and themes; training cooperation; organization of conferences and seminars, etc. The two parties agreed to sign a Cooperation Agreement between the two Academies. The signing ceremony was held solemnly with the attendance and witness of Vietnamese Ambassador to Mongolia Hoang Dinh Thinh.
After the ceremony, President Nguyen Xuan Thang respectfully invited Academician B. Emkhtuvshin, President of MAS, and Mongolian scientists to visit Vietnam and to participate the International Conference on Vietnamese Studies, which will be held in Hanoi in November 2012. The Mongolian counterparts accepted the invitation.
The delegation visited and worked with the Standing Committee of Mongolian National Assembly on the issues of social, educational and training, and scientific policies. Mr. A. Tleikhan, Chairman of the Committee received the delegation. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang announced the signing of Cooperation Agreement of the two Academies, emphasizing the role of scientific cooperation in fostering the traditional cooperation between the two countries. The delegation hoped the Mongolian National Assembly and Government create conditions to promote co-operational relationship between the two Academies.
Mr. A. Tleikhan insisted that science plays an important role, being the leading intellect of one nation, the “head” of one state. For over the past 20 years of transition, Mongolia has experienced many ups and downs. For the last 4 years, the negotiations between Democratic Revolutionary Party and Democratic Party have created the stability in politics, a good foundation for development. In the next phase, Mongolia will focus more on science and technology development. The cooperation with other countries, including Vietnam is important. On behalf of the National Assembly, Mr. Tleikhan hoped to promote the cooperation between the two Academies.
The business trip to the Russian Federation and Mongolia has had good outcomes. The delegation signed two cooperation agreements with RAN and MAS, visited and worked at research institutes, discussing in detail issues of mutual concerns, methods of implementation, etc. The trip has opened cooperation opportunities between VASS and RAN, VASS and MAS, as well as among research institutes and scientist of Vietnam and Russia, of Vietnam and Mongolia.
Nguyen An Ha
