Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Quan has thanked
Japan for cooperation in science and technology and called for more
support from the country in this field, especially the nuclear sector,
at separate meetings with Japanese officials within the framework of the
visit to Japan by Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.
At a meeting with Japanese Minister of Education, Culture, Sport,
Science and Technology Masaharu Nakagawa on Oct. 31, Quan asked the
Japanese side to reach consensus on forms of cooperation and prioritised
areas to implement multilateral research activities within the
framework of the e-ASIA Joint Research Forum.
Referring to the preparation for the construction of a nuclear power
plant in Vietnam , Quan asked the Japanese Ministry of Education,
Culture, Sport, Science and Technology (MEXT) to help build capacity of
Vietnamese agencies involved in the project.
In
terms of space cooperation, the Vietnamese minister appreciated Japan
’s support for building the Vietnamese Space Centre at the Hoa Lac
Hi-tech Zone, expressing his hope that the two sides would promote
cooperation in the research and application of space technology, in
particular satellite technology.
On the occasion,
Quan informed his host of efforts to complete procedures for the early
signing of an agreement between his ministry with the Japan Society for
the Promotion of Science, to support joint research activities of the
two countries’ universities and set up a network of leading scientists.
At a meeting with Kazuo Watanabe, Japanese
Ambassador for Science and Technology Cooperation under the Japanese
Foreign Ministry, Quan appraised the Japanese ministry’s cooperation in
implementing activities included in the agreement on cooperation in
science and technology signed between the two governments in 2006.
The Vietnamese Minister suggested Japan work closely with Vietnam to promote cooperation between research centres.
While meeting with the Japan Nuclear Energy Safety Organisation, Quan
called on the organisation to help Vietnam train nuclear technicians and
experts in preparation for the operation of nuclear energy plants in
Vietnam./.
