UNESCO sponsors Vietnam’s centers for mathematics and physics

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Minister of Science and Technology Chu Ngoc Anh on behalf of the Government of Vietnam and Ms. Irina Bokova, Director General of UNESCO, on August 24 signed an agreement to establish two category 2 centers in Vietnam under the recognition and auspices of UNESCO.

The mathematics and physics centers were established to develop and provide scientific support for countries in the region and head for supporting Asia-Pacific and African countries, contributing to UNESCO programs through activities such as scientific research, education and training, and other activities at national and regional levels.

The two sides at the signing ceremony.

This is the first time Vietnam has UNESCO’s category 2 centers for mathematics and physics, becoming one of the four ASEAN countries having scientific centers recognized and sponsored by UNESCO.

According to the Ministry of Science and Technology, the centers will participate in international research projects in collaboration with the International Basic Science Program and the International Center for Theoretical Physics of UNESCO and other scientific organizations.

The centers will also be assigned to organizing scientific events and transferring knowledge through short-term activities, including classes, workshops, conferences, seminars in accordance with UNESCO programs.

UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova speaking at the event.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, Minister Chu Ngoc Anh affirmed, "With the establishment of the two international centers, Vietnam hopes to show its responsibility for the development of basic science in accordance with the goals set by UNESCO, and the desire to support and cooperate with other countries in the region and other developing countries (Vietnam is a developing country) in the fields of mathematics and physics."

"Vietnamese scientists will work closely with the world scientists to contribute to basic science," said Minister Chu Ngoc Anh, affirming that Vietnam would provide more favorable conditions in terms of policy and manpower for the two centers to operate effectively and participate actively in international programs of UNESCO.

UNESCO Director General Irina Bokova expressed her belief that these new international centers would play a pivotal role in boosting the capacity of research and innovation in ASEAN, Asia and Africa.

Reportedly, the establishment of these two category 2 centers is suitable with the Strategy for the development of science and technology in the 2011-2020 period of the Government of Vietnam, which sets the goal to form basic and applied research organizations at regional and world levels.

According to experts, in the context of international integration, Vietnam's participation in the network of category 2 scientific centers under the auspices of UNESCO shows the international recognition for Vietnamese intellect besides its natural and cultural heritage.