Ambassador Ranjit Rae expressed his pleasure with better and better relations between Vietnam and India. He affirmed that S&T has been a key field in the social and economic development of any nation. S&T cooperation has become pillar field in the partnership development between Vietnam and India. The two countries have implemented many cooperation programs and projects, especially programs relating to training.
Ambassador Ranjit Rae hoped that Vietnam and India would look for opportunities in order to strengthen cooperation in S&T field in the coming time. He said that during the time he held the position of Indian Ambassador to Vietnam, he would try his best to develop more cooperative relations between the two countries. The Ambassador expressed his desires that Vietnam’s MOST would continue its support for projects on S&T cooperation with India. According to Ambassador Ranjit Rae, India and some other nations have cooperated very efficiently by establishing a shared fund to sponsor S&T projects, the two parties would have financial contributions and scientists of the two countries would participate together. Ambassador Ranjit Rae proposed that Vietnam and India should consider the implementation of this model. In addition, the organization of regular meetings to review cooperation results in S&T field would be very necessary.
Minister Hoàng Văn Phong agreed and thanked for Ambassador Ranjit Rae’s proposals of. The Minister said that Vietnamese Government has spent a certain amount of budget for cooperation activities on scientific research with countries. However, according to the Minister it would be necessary to define directions and issues to which the two parties pay attention. After a certain period of time, the two parties would discuss and review S&T tasks on which the two parties have cooperated. The Minister also shared some cooperation opportunities between the two countries on using biology technology in agriculture; using biology technology in medicine and pharmacy; information technology; nuclear electricity field;…
Ambassador Ranjit Rae expressed his thanks for very specific proposals in each field made by the Minister. According to the Ambassador, the meeting of Vietnam – India Mixed Committee which will take place by the end of 2010 would be a very good opportunity for the two countries to discuss and identify specific S&T cooperation fields in the coming time. The Ambassador shared his pleasure when the Governments of Vietnam and India have had cooperation documents on the nuclear electricity field – which Vietnam is paying special attention. Although Indian Atomic Energy Commission is separated from India’s MOST, he and India’s MOST would propose directly and be the bridge so that the two Commissions of the two countries would exchange and cooperate.
In the meeting, Minister Hoàng Văn Phong and Ambassador Ranjit Rae also discussed and pointed out difficulties to be overcome in order to promote activities of Vietnam – India Friendship Association (Association), including cultural and artist activities. Ambassador Ranjit Rae hoped that the Association would have many more activities during the time he held the position of Indian Ambassador to Vietnam. The Minister believed that with the attention and cooperation of Ambassador Ranjit Rae, friendship cooperative relations between the two countries in general and the Association in particular would be promoted more and more and developed better.