Cooperation in strategic technologies should become new pillar of Viet Nam-Russia ties: To Lam

The top Vietnamese leader made the above suggestion while addressing the Viet Nam-Russia Science and Technology Forum in Moscow, Russia on September 9.

To Lam, who is on a State visit to Russia, said Viet Nam has entered a new phase of development, driven by the aspiration to build a peaceful, independent, democratic, prosperous, civilized, and happy nation, striving to become a developed, high-income country by 2045.

To achieve the above goal, Viet Nam has identified science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as the main drivers to reform its growth model, enhance productivity, competitiveness, and economic self-reliance, said To Lam.

He went on to say that Viet Nam attaches great importance to international cooperation, particularly with partners possessing strong scientific and technological foundations.

Science, technology, and education constitute a special foundation of Viet Nam-Russia relations. Tens of thousands of Vietnamese cadres and experts were trained in the former Soviet Union, many of whom have become prominent scientists, specialists, and leaders making significant contributions to Viet Nam's national development and construction.

To Lam suggested that future technology cooperation between Viet Nam and Russia requires a new mindset, new approaches, and higher targets-moving beyond expert exchanges and cadre training toward jointly mastering technologies, co-creating products, and together participating in the market.

Both sides should select key strategic fields that combine Russia's scientific and technological strengths with Viet Nam's development needs, human resources, and market potential - such as nuclear energy, new energy, space and satellite technology, semiconductors and microelectronics, quantum technology, and artificial intelligence, said To Lam.

Priority should be given to fields capable of generating new technological capabilities that directly contribute to socio-economic development, ensure national security and safety, and enhance each nation's technological autonomy, he added.

He expressed his desire for Russian energy and technology corporations to boost investment and technology transfer to Viet Nam, while encouraging Vietnamese tech firms to proactively seek investment and partnership opportunities in Russia.

 To Lam suggested both sides create favorable conditions for scientists and businesses to meet, exchange, and cooperate, while making strong investments in the next generation of young Vietnamese and Russian scientists and experts.

Both sides should expand training programs in strategic technological domains, increase exchanges of young scientists, and enable young research teams to undertake scientific and technological assignments together.

To Lam expressed his confidence that with the foundation of traditional friendship, high political trust, Russia's scientific and technological potential, and Viet Nam's strong determination for reform and development, bilateral cooperation in science, technology, and innovation can fully become a new engine, a new pillar, and a new symbol of Viet Nam-Russia relations in the 21sst century.

At the forum, both sides launched the Viet Nam-Russia Knowlege Network and exchanged cooperation documents in science, technology, and education between the two countries./.