Vietnam promotes cooperation in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation

From March 25-26, 2025, the Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy attended the Science Diplomacy Ministerial Conference organized by UNESCO in Paris, France.

Overview of the UNESCO Science Diplomacy Ministerial Conference in Paris, France.

The conference is a high-level forum to promote policy dialogue and strengthen international cooperation in the field of STID for sustainable development. The conference was attended by 56 member countries and a number of international organizations such as the International Science Council (ISC), the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) and the Union for the Mediterranean (UfM).

Vietnamese delegation at the Conference of Science Foreign Ministers.

Speaking at the plenary session and ministerial roundtables, Deputy Minister Bui The Duy affirmed Vietnam's strong commitment to promoting STID for peace, inclusive and sustainable development, while emphasizing the strategic role of science diplomacy in connecting global knowledge, and sharing Vietnam's experience in quickly responding to the Covid-19 pandemic thanks to a close coordination mechanism between scientists and managers. The Deputy Minister called for the development of flexible policies, adapting to new technologies, promoting open science, while ensuring a balance between access to knowledge and protection of intellectual property rights and national security.

Deputy Minister Bui The Duy spoke at the Conference.

The Deputy Minister held important bilateral meetings with senior UNESCO leaders and Sri Lankan Ministers on the sidelines of the Conference, to promote specific cooperation activities.

During the meeting with Ms. Lidia Brito, Assistant Director-General of UNESCO for Natural Sciences, the two sides highly appreciated the effective cooperation between Vietnam and UNESCO in the fields of natural sciences, and agreed to expand the Category 2 centers recognized and sponsored by UNESCO, promote cooperation through projects to conserve biosphere reserves, global geoparks and restore ecosystems such as mangrove forests and hydro-ecological zones. The two sides also discussed the integration of disaster risk reduction into development planning and the promotion of creative industries associated with the conservation of natural heritage. Vietnam affirmed its readiness to actively participate in regional and global cooperation programs, especially within the framework of South-South cooperation.

At the working session with Ms. Gabriela Ramos, UNESCO Deputy Director-General for Social Sciences, the two sides discussed the far-reaching impact of emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), neurotechnology and digital transformation on policy and society. Deputy Minister Bui The Duy shared Vietnam's orientation in integrating four pillars: science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation in the new organizational model of the Ministry of Science and Technology. Ms. Ramos highly appreciated Vietnam's vision and institutional reforms, and proposed to strengthen cooperation through connecting experts, organizing workshops on AI ethics, supporting policy advice and inviting Vietnam to send experts to participate in global professional networks coordinated by UNESCO.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy had a bilateral meeting with Ms. Gabriela Ramos, UNESCO Deputy Director-General in charge of Social Sciences.

Also within the framework of the working trip, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy had a working session with Mr. Chrishantha Abeysena, Minister of Science and Technology of Sri Lanka to discuss bilateral cooperation opportunities. Minister Chrishantha Abeysena expressed his desire to initiate cooperation with Vietnam in the field of agriculture, an area where the two countries have many similarities in terms of climate conditions and development challenges. In addition, Sri Lanka is also interested in areas such as biotechnology, renewable energy, healthcare, industry and technology transfer. Deputy Minister Bui The Duy expressed his view that Vietnam is ready to share experiences, promote joint research cooperation, exchange experts and commercialize research results. The two sides agreed to assign focal points to coordinate in developing a specific cooperation action plan in the coming time.

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui The Duy and Mr. Chrishantha Abeysena, Minister of Science and Technology of Sri Lanka.

The Vietnamese delegation also had a working session with the Vietnamese Ambassador to France and the Vietnamese Permanent Delegation to UNESCO to discuss promoting bilateral STID cooperation activities with France and UNESCO in the coming time.

The delegation of the Ministry of Science and Technology attending the Conference and bilateral activities not only helps to strengthen Vietnam's voice at multilateral forums, but also opens up practical cooperation directions with UNESCO and international partners in priority areas such as open science, emerging technology, resource conservation and digital transformation./.

Center for Research and Development of Science and Technology Communication, Department of International Cooperation

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/viet-nam-day-manh-hop-tac-khoa-hoc-cong-nghe-doi-moi-sang-tao-va-chuyen-doi-so-197250327140043831.htm