Association of Vietnamese Intellectuals and Experts in Australia acts as a bridge for bilateral relations

The Association of Vietnamese Intellectuals and Experts in Australia (VASEA) has made important contributions to the development of human resources, knowledge and cooperation projects between the two countries. This was the assessment of Deputy Ambassador of Vietnam to Australia, Mr. Nghiem Xuan Hoa, at the association's first annual congress, held on June 2 in Sydney, Australia.

Photo caption — Online speech of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) at the Congress. Photo: Thanh Tu/VNA

According to a VNA correspondent in Sydney, the congress was also attended by Vietnamese Consul General in charge of New South Wales, Queensland and South Australia Nguyen Dang Thang, along with more than 120 VASEA members and invited guests who are experts, scholars and representatives of many organizations in Australia and Vietnam. Nearly a year since its establishment in August 2023, VASEA has become a common home for Vietnamese scholars and experts living and working in Australia to exchange and contribute knowledge, expertise and experience in academia and industry, contributing to the development of both Vietnam and Australia as well as the good relationship between the two countries. The Congress reviewed the initial successes of VASEA, including activities to welcome many high-ranking delegations from Vietnam to Australia, first of all, the association's meeting with Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and five ministers in Canberra during the Prime Minister's official visit to Australia in March 2024.

VASEA also signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Posts and Telecommunications Institute of Technology (August 2023) and with Hanoi University of Science and Technology (March 2024). In addition, members of the VASEA Executive Board have successfully organized many workshops and short courses sponsored by the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) and many other organizations in both Australia and Vietnam on digital transformation, energy efficiency, carbon markets, climate change, sustainable management leadership development, tourism development, digital economy, energy transition, high-tech agriculture and technological solutions to help solve the problem of rising sea levels in the Mekong Delta. Representatives of the VASEA Executive Board paid an official visit and worked with the National Innovation Center (NIC) under the Ministry of Planning and Investment of Vietnam in May 2024, opening up many opportunities for strategic cooperation between VASEA and NIC in the coming time. Over the past year, VASEA has also organized free online seminars on many current issues such as energy management, pension fund utilization strategy, digital transformation, clean water, the Australian government's new immigration strategy and its impact on international students, and exploring Internet of Things (IoT) technology for smart cities. Speaking at the Congress, Deputy Ambassador of Vietnam to Australia Nghiem Xuan Hoa affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Embassy and foreign affairs agencies of Vietnam in Australia are very interested and committed to always accompanying intellectual organizations such as VASEA, coordinating and supporting the activities and development of VASEA according to the set principles and purposes and achieving practical and specific results.

Speaking online to welcome the Congress, Mr. Andrew Goledzinowski, Australian Ambassador to Vietnam, said that the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and Australia is not only implemented by government agencies, but also requires the participation of the private sector, universities and organizations such as VASEA. Ambassador Goledzinowski highly appreciated the activities of VASEA, with a focus on Vietnam's transition to a green energy future and a focus on the Mekong region. These are issues of great significance to the future of Vietnam and Australia. He also encouraged VASEA to act as a bridge to bring Vietnam and Australia closer together for common prosperity and success.

Appreciating the activities of VASEA, in an online speech from the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Mr. Nguyen Manh Dong - Vice Chairman of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese - said that the practical activities of VASEA contribute to promoting cooperation between the two countries. The association's executive board, although busy with research and teaching, still devotes a lot of time and enthusiasm to activities towards the homeland. He affirmed that the contributions of the team of Vietnamese intellectuals and businessmen abroad are truly important and necessary for Vietnam and the world, especially in the context of science and technology, innovation, digital transformation and green transformation are developing strongly. Meanwhile, through a speech titled “Vietnam’s Financial Reform: Lessons for Other Emerging Markets”, Professor Sean Turnell - Senior Fellow at the Lowy Institute for Strategic Economics and Guest of Honor at the conference - affirmed that Vietnam’s efforts to liberalize and stabilize its financial sector in recent years have not only achieved significant success domestically but have also been a true inspiration for other countries on what can be done. In particular, the contribution of intellectual organizations such as VASEA at home and abroad is an important factor. As one of the guests of VASEA, Professor Tran Ngoc Anh from Indiana University (USA) - advisor to the Vietnam Initiative - commented that the current generation of Vietnamese living abroad has many professors and leading experts in many fields, and Australia is the place that gathers a large number of these valuable human resources. In addition, a number of businesses in Australia and Vietnam also sent their gratitude and encouragement to VASEA to contribute more to the country.

At the end of the congress, Professor Nghiem Duc Long - President of VASEA - announced the association's action plan for the period 2024-2025 and the following years. Professor Long said that in addition to VASEA's annual activities such as monthly seminars, the association will organize programs to improve knowledge, foster experience and support leadership capacity for young members. VASEA will prioritize activities and projects in key areas agreed by Australia and Vietnam to further contribute to bilateral cooperation between the two countries; at the same time, continue to implement more scientific exchange programs, technology transfer, and training to serve important issues such as circular economy, coping with climate change, especially in the Mekong Delta and provinces that still need more support.