Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visited and delivered a policy speech at Universiti Kebaangsan – National University of Malaysia (UKM), a leading academic center in Malaysia and Asia - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Also attending were Malaysian Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek, diplomats , researchers, professors, lecturers and a large number of students.
Here, the Prime Minister took time to answer questions about solutions to promoteeducational and training cooperation between universities of the two countries, as well as potential and strong science and technology fields that Vietnam focuses on developing.
Established in 1970, UKM currently has nearly 3,000 international students out of a total of more than 25,500 students. It is one of the top five universities in scientific research, innovation and medicine; and is the cradle of many outstanding, senior leaders in Malaysia.
Speaking here, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his honor to visit and speak at UKM, highly appreciating the school's goals and mission: Committed to pioneering in leading the development of a learning, dynamic, ethical society and playing an important role in preserving cultural values and national identity.
Traditional art performance to welcome Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit at Kebaangsan University - National University of Malaysia - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
The Prime Minister warmly congratulated the School on its proud achievements; congratulated the students - those who carry within them the faith, enthusiasm, aspiration and mission to lead the future, the future belongs to the young generation.
The Prime Minister highly appreciated UKM as one of Malaysia's symbols of: Open knowledge - diverse integration - connected community; a place that not only imparts knowledge but also nurtures the desire to serve; a place that not only nurtures high-quality human resources for Malaysia but also nurtures regional and global citizens.
The Prime Minister expressed his appreciation for the values that Malaysia upholds and that Vietnam also shares, such as love, diligence, aspiration to strive, and maintaining friendship and loyalty in international relations.
In his speech, the Prime Minister focused on discussing five major contents: (1) Vietnam - Malaysia relations; (2) position, role, and importance of education and training (EDT), science and technology (S&T), innovation and digital transformation in the new situation; (3) goals and orientations for the development of ETE, S&T, innovation and digital transformation in Vietnam; (4) cooperation in ETE, S&T and digital transformation between Vietnam and Malaysia; (5) messages to schools and students.
Acting Rector of Kebaangsan University – National University of Malaysia delivers welcoming speech - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Regarding Vietnam-Malaysia relations, the Prime Minister said that after more than 50 years of establishing diplomatic relations, the friendly cooperation between the two countries has grown stronger and stronger, especially with the milestone of officially upgrading the relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the official visit to Malaysia by General Secretary To Lam (November 2024).
Since the visit of General Secretary To Lam, the relationship between the two countries has continued to be strengthened in a very short time with many positive highlights.
The two sides agreed to complete the content of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Action Program for the 2025-2030 period; political trust, understanding, and mutual respect have been increasingly strengthened, and leaders regularly share and consult on policies.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Malaysian Prime Minister met four times in 2025, both in person and online, to promptly discuss bilateral and international issues of mutual concern. Bilateral mechanisms were effectively implemented.
The Prime Minister expressed his delight at the multifaceted cooperation results between the two countries in recent times. Malaysia is currently Vietnam's second largest trading partner in ASEAN and ninth in the world. Malaysia is also Vietnam's third largest export market in ASEAN. Bilateral trade in 2024 will reach about 15 billion USD, an increase of more than 12% compared to 2023. Malaysia is currently the third largest investor in ASEAN in Vietnam, ranking 10th out of 150 countries and territories investing in Vietnam with 770 valid projects and a total capital of 13.6 billion USD. Vietnam currently has 27 investment projects in Malaysia with a total registered capital of 855 million USD. Other areas of cooperation have been promoted such as defense - security, tourism, energy, education and training, science and technology.
"It can be affirmed that the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries is being increasingly consolidated and enhanced, becoming a model of cooperation in ASEAN: politically stable, economically strong, culturally profound, and broad in vision; sharing the goal of independence, sovereignty, and for the happiness and prosperity of the people," the Prime Minister emphasized.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh: Together we will create a Southeast Asia that is a center for knowledge creation and new technology - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
At the same time, the strong connection between the two countries contributes significantly to writing the story of Southeast Asia united in diversity, with rich culture, young labor force, large market, solidarity and self-reliance, the center of growth, dynamic development, inclusive development and prosperity, fast and sustainable.
The Prime Minister said that at the meeting on May 25, he and the Malaysian Prime Minister agreed to strengthen cooperation in various fields, including: Continuing to maintain, upgrade and promote the effectiveness of existing mechanisms; determined to increase bilateral trade turnover to 20 billion USD in the next 1-2 years in a balanced and sustainable direction; enhancing exchanges, consultations, experience sharing and expanding cooperation in new fields such as digital economy, green economy, science and technology, innovation, etc.; promoting defense and security cooperation for the goal of peace, stability and development in the region and the world; promoting education and training cooperation; promoting tourism promotion, cultural connection, enhancing people-to-people exchange; maintaining solidarity and unity in diversity; persistently and firmly maintaining ASEAN's central role in various fields (such as sustainable and inclusive development, leaving no one behind, environmental protection, combating climate change, East Sea issues, etc.).
Regarding the position, role and importance of education and training, science and technology, innovation and digital transformation in the new situation, the Prime Minister said that we are entering an era where knowledge is the core strength, education is the main foundation, people are the strategic asset; breakthroughs in science and technology, innovation and digital transformation are important driving forces and decisive factors for the rapid and sustainable development of each country.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said Vietnam considers education and training along with science and technology as top national policies - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Knowledge is the key, technology is the door to open a brighter future for countries. In the context of globalization, digital transformation and the fourth industrial revolution, the need to develop high-quality human resources is becoming more urgent than ever.
This is where training institutions play a central role in preparing human resources for the future - not just for one country, but for the entire region and the world.
The Prime Minister highly appreciated the fact that UKM University has signed a Letter of Intent to cooperate with two leading universities in Vietnam (Ho Chi Minh City National University and Hanoi National University), opening up prospects for extensive cooperation in the fields of education and training, scientific and technological research, promoting innovative startups, and training high-quality human resources. Vietnam identifies the need to improve people's knowledge, train human resources, foster talents, and launch a movement of a learning society and lifelong learning.
Regarding the goals and orientations for developing education, science and technology, innovation and digital transformation in Vietnam, the Prime Minister said that Vietnam considers education, along with science and technology, as top national policies.
Vietnam is entering a new era of the nation with the top priority of successfully achieving two 100-year goals: By 2030, becoming a developing country with modern industry and high average income; by 2045, becoming a developed country with high income. To complete the above goals, Vietnam has set a growth target of 8% or more in 2025 and double digits in the period 2026-2030.
To grow rapidly and sustainably for many years, Vietnam is implementing three strategic breakthroughs (open institutions, smooth infrastructure, smart people).
Established in 1970, UKM currently has nearly 3,000 international students out of a total of more than 25,500 students. This is one of the top five universities in scientific research, innovation and medicine; it is the cradle of many outstanding, high-ranking leaders of Malaysia - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Along with that, Vietnam is carrying out a strong revolution in the organization of the apparatus, drastically implementing the "four pillars" (including Resolution No. 57 on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation; along with international integration in the new situation; innovation in law-making and enforcement to meet the requirements of national development in the new era; developing the private economy); focusing on building a new Resolution on modernization, breakthroughs in education and training development, strategies to protect people's health, ensuring equal access to education and health care.
The Prime Minister said that Vietnam will exempt tuition fees for preschool and primary school students from the 2025-2026 school year. By 2045, Vietnam will strive to be among the top 20 countries in the world in education and training.
Regarding higher education, Vietnam has set two goals: (i) By 2030, strive to have 8 higher education institutions in the top 200 universities in Asia and 1 higher education institution in the top 100 universities in the world in a number of science and technology fields; (ii) By 2035, strive to have 12 higher education institutions in the top 100 universities in Asia and 2 universities in the top 100 universities in the world in a number of science and technology fields.
Regarding cooperation in education and training, science and technology and digital transformation between Vietnam and Malaysia, the Prime Minister said that Vietnam and Malaysia are two dynamically developing economies in Southeast Asia, sharing a vision of sustainable development based on knowledge, technology and innovation.
Cooperation in human resource development and new areas of science and technology, innovation and digital transformation is one of the four main pillars strongly promoted to realize the common vision of Vietnam and Malaysia.
Delegates ask questions to Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
"Vietnamese people have a saying: 'A day's journey teaches a lot of knowledge', meaning the more we communicate and exchange, the more we understand, improve our knowledge, and become more mature," the Prime Minister shared.
In recent times, Vietnam and Malaysia have signed many educational cooperation agreements, promoted student and lecturer exchanges, coordinated the organization of seminars, and developed joint training programs, creating an increasingly close-knit knowledge network between the two countries.
In the Memorandum of Understanding between the two governments on cooperation in the field of education signed on March 6, 2019, forms of cooperation include exchanges of lecturers, teachers, experts, students and educational managers; exchange of learning materials, publications, information; organization of training courses, competitions, educational exhibitions; and other forms of cooperation of mutual interest.
There are currently 8 joint training programs between Vietnamese and Malaysian higher education institutions (implemented in Vietnam) with a variety of majors and fields such as business administration, information technology, English language, etc.
However, the Prime Minister assessed that the potential for cooperation between the two countries in human resource development, science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation is still very large.
The Prime Minister said that to improve the effectiveness of educational cooperation between the two countries, especially at the university level, it is necessary to rely on "5 pillars" including : Strengthening cooperation in training high-tech human resources; promoting cooperation in scientific research and innovation; expanding academic exchanges - connecting students - exchanging scholarships; closely coordinating in developing training programs, quality assessment, credit and diploma recognition; promoting cooperation in creative startups. The Prime Minister welcomed the establishment of a Malaysian University in Vietnam.
The Prime Minister answered questions about solutions to promote educational cooperation between universities of the two countries, as well as potential and strong science and technology fields that Vietnam focuses on developing - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Regarding cooperation in science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation, the Prime Minister suggested that the two countries focus on implementing "5 enhancements": Strengthening information and data sharing; promoting the connection of high-tech parks, innovation centers and startup incubators of the two sides; strengthening cooperation in developing bilateral research programs, prioritizing the following areas: Green transformation, circular economy, smart cities, high-tech agriculture, digital medicine, data security; strengthening cooperation in developing digital infrastructure, especially network infrastructure; strengthening coordination and sharing of experiences in developing digital government and online public services. The Prime Minister noted that cooperation should not only be promoted between the two countries but also within ASEAN in this field.
Sharing the message to the school and students, the Prime Minister said that he felt from the students the youthfulness, enthusiasm, the spirit of learning, dynamism and creativity, the desire to constantly improve, the effort to overcome all challenges and personal limits, to serve the Fatherland and the people, to build Malaysia to be increasingly developed, leading in digital transformation, green transformation, developing a circular economy, equal access to education and healthcare, ensuring progress, fairness, social security, leaving no one behind. "When Malaysia grows strong, develops comprehensively, inclusively and sustainably, it is also a joy, a driving force and inspiration for Vietnam," said the Prime Minister.
"You are the representatives of the young generation - the subjects who shape, create and lead the future not only of Malaysia but also contribute to shaping, creating and leading the future of the entire region," the Prime Minister emphasized. To realize the vision and aspirations for development, young people are the subjects, the pioneering force in creation and development, the future owners of each country.
The Prime Minister expressed Vietnam's readiness to cooperate more closely with Malaysia in education and training and the fields of science and technology development, innovation, and digital transformation for common goals - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
The Prime Minister hopes that students will promote the spirit of "5 proactiveness": (i) Be proactive in studying; (ii) Be proactive in innovation and entrepreneurship, creating motivation and inspiration for those around them; (iii) Be proactive in participating in building institutions and perfecting policies; (iv) Be proactive in international exchange and integration; (v) Be proactive in preserving peace, stability and ASEAN cultural identity.
The Prime Minister reiterated President Ho Chi Minh's saying to the young generation: "Nothing is difficult, only fear of not being steadfast/Digging mountains and filling seas, determination will surely make it happen"; hoping that the young generation "won without pride, lost without discouragement"; had the mindset of "turning nothing into something, turning difficult into easy, turning the impossible into possible, turning unimportant into important, then that is what is important"; "looking far, looking wide, thinking deeply, doing big", valuing time, intelligence, decisiveness at the right time; "saying is doing, committing to doing", bringing benefits to oneself, to one's family, to the community and to the country.
The Prime Minister said that Vietnam must continue to make efforts to refer to and learn from Malaysia's academic and development example, with the spirit of "no one cares about you more than yourself", and the educational development perspective: "Taking students as the center and subject - Teachers as the driving force - School as the support - Family as the fulcrum - Society as the foundation".
Wishing Universiti Kebaangsan - National University of Malaysia to continue to be a bright spot on the regional knowledge map and a symbol of Malaysian education, the Prime Minister stated: When Vietnam and Malaysia invest together in knowledge - today's youth share the same aspiration, we will together create a Southeast Asia that is not only a production center but also a center of ideas; not only a place to apply technology but also a place to create future knowledge and technology; not only a place to receive creativity but also to create for development.
Sharing the belief that "knowledge is power, when the two countries share, connect knowledge, and invest in future generations, all limits can be overcome and new miracles will be established", the Prime Minister expressed that Vietnam is ready to cooperate more closely with Malaysia in education and training and the fields of science and technology development, innovation, and digital transformation for the common goal.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his wife and the Vietnamese delegation returned to Hanoi, successfully concluding his official visit to Malaysia and attending the 46th ASEAN Summit and related summits - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac
*This is the last activity of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh during his working trip to Malaysia. After that, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, his wife and the Vietnamese delegation returned to Hanoi, successfully concluding his official visit to Malaysia and attending the 46th ASEAN Summit and related summits from May 24-28 at the invitation of Malaysian Prime Minister - ASEAN Chair 2025 Anwar Ibrahim and his wife.
Ha Van
Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/thu-tuong-cung-nhau-kien-tao-mot-dong-nam-a-la-trung-tam-sang-tao-tri-thuc-va-cong-nghe-moi-102250528125140641.htm
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