Deploying science and technology diplomacy in the Russian Federation

On November 14th, the Vietnamese Embassy in the Russian Federation held a meeting to implement the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' Action Plan on Science and Technology Diplomacy until 2030, in accordance with Resolution 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in the development of science and technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.

Mr. Doan Khac Hoang, Counselor and Minister Plenipotentiary of the Embassy, presented some key aspects of the program, identifying three main principles: flexibility, proactiveness, and creativity; selective adoption; and encouraging the participation of both the State and businesses, with the people at the center.

In Vietnam's international cooperation orientation in science and technology, the Russian Federation is ranked among the top countries, along with other developed nations. Therefore, scientific diplomacy in this region is of great importance and must yield assessments that provide advisory support to the government and relevant ministries and agencies.

During the meeting, the Head of the Science and Technology Department of the Embassy, Nguyen Ngoc Anh, introduced Russia's orientation and strategy in science and technology development, and offered insights into the potential that Vietnam can exploit and develop further. Accordingly, although Russia leans more towards basic science development compared to Vietnam's application-oriented approach, the Russian Federation remains a safe and reliable partner for Vietnam. This is particularly important considering the need to safeguard national sovereignty and interests in science and technology cooperation, as well as ensuring Vietnam's fair position in joint projects.

According to a report by Mai Nguyen Tuyet Hoa, Head of the Education Department at the Embassy, in addition to long-established scientific research centers, research is now also receiving significant attention at universities across the federation, especially those selected for the federal "Priority" project aimed at supporting universities.

With the large number of Vietnamese students, graduate students, and doctoral candidates going to Russia to study each year under various programs, this is a great opportunity that should be seized so that Vietnamese students can access and participate in high-level scientific research projects early on.

The proportion of Vietnamese students studying STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) fields currently accounts for approximately 30% of the total number of Vietnamese students studying in Russia. This is a very positive percentage, and Vietnam needs to take advantage of the current favorable political conditions to maintain and increase this proportion, building a team of scientists with a solid foundation, high-level research experience, and international cooperation skills.

For his part, Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi emphasized that science and technology are now identified as a new driving force for the development of the country's economy, and Russia, compared to many other countries, has a particular advantage in terms of security in scientific and technological cooperation. Therefore, to realize and further enhance the effectiveness of cooperation, a crucial factor is the awareness of this role among those working in science diplomacy.

Although applied science is not its strongest area, the applied achievements of Russian science have been recognized worldwide and in Vietnam, most recently the COVID-19 vaccine and new cancer treatments licensed by the Vietnamese Ministry of Health. The Russian university system and Academy of Sciences consistently maintain high rankings in world rankings.

Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi noted that the difficulties in this new phase could become opportunities, creating favorable conditions for cooperation in technology transfer. Regarding key areas requiring in-depth research to provide timely and accurate advice to the government and ministries, Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi pointed out nuclear energy and technology, space and satellite technology, basic science, defense industry, biotechnology, and information technology, with a particular emphasis on personnel training.

This working session on the implementation of science diplomacy will inspire other initiatives aimed at concrete actions, creating a qualitative shift in the awareness and actions of diplomats in a scientific manner, promoting science, and helping to make science an important orientation in diplomacy.

Comment (0)