Vietnam attends ASEAN Science and Technology meeting

The Vietnamese delegation is headed by Tran Quoc Khanh, vice minister of Science and Technology and Vietnam COST chairman.

According to the the Ministry of Industry and Trade (MIT), COST-67 focuses on reviewing the ASEAN Plan of Action for Science, Technology and Innovation 2015-2020, which is to serve as the blueprint and implementation framework for the next phase of ASEAN's science and technology efforts.

In closed-door sessions, delegates will also discuss key areas including talent mobility initiatives to encourage young talent to take up STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) careers and the harmonisation of technical standards across ASEAN.

They will be briefed by the eight sub-committees that met on April 21 and 22 on their progress in such areas as biotechnology, sustainable energy research, microelectronics and information technology, and marine science and technology.

Addressing the opening ceremony hon April 23, S. Iswaran, Singapore's minister of the Prime Minister's Office and second minister for Home Affairs and Trade & Industry, said that since its establishment in 1978, ASEAN COST has been leading efforts to promote regional co-operation and mutual assistance in research and development programmes. He added that Singapore chairs the Health Flagship Programme, which aims to strengthen ASEAN's capabilities to combat infectious diseases that are of concern to ASEAN.

The minister reaffirmed Singapore's commitment to joining efforts to improve metrology capabilities and standards application in the various ASEAN forums and partnerships and to embarking on joint science and technology projects of mutual interest with all ASEAN member states and dialogue partners.

(Source: Nhandan Online)