Human resources development key for Vietnam’s growth: President

Hanoi (VNA) – President Tran Dai Quang had a meeting in Hanoi on December 21 with UNESCO Chair in Global Learning and Global Citizenship Education, Prof. Carlos Alberto Torres, during which he affirms that Vietnam sees the development of high quality human resources as key for sustainable growth.

Boosting human resources is also part of solutions to increase the national competitiveness and an important foundation for Vietnam’s international integration, he said, adding that optimising people’s capacity through education and training is one of the priorities in Vietnam’s growth policies.

The President noted that Vietnam has implemented synchronous measures and policies for human resources development, while raising public awareness of issues related to human rights, gender equality, culture and climate change, which also contributes to improving the country’s ability in dealing with global matters.

Lauding the UNESCO’s global citizenship education programme, President Quang expressed belief that the programme will succeed thanks to the common perspective in sustainable development of UN member countries.

This year, Vietnam has introduced a candidate to the position of UNESCO Director General for the 2017-2021 tenure, the President said, expressing his hope that the Vietnamese candidate will receive support from international friends.

The State leader also proposed that Prof. Carlos Alberto Torres, who is a professor of the US’s California university, will continue helping connect Vietnam and the UNESCO in general and the US in particular in enhancing human capacity and awareness of sustainable development as well as in coping with global issues.

He suggested that Prof. Torres consider the launching of the UNESCO global citizenship education programme in Vietnam in combination with cultural and knowledge exchanges between Vietnam and the world.

On his part, Prof. Torres said that one of the targets of his visit to Vietnam is to study the possibility of introducing the UNESCO global citizenship programme to Vietnam. He added that the programme hopes to help 5 million people in Vietnam meet the international citizen standards in 2019.

He also asked for support and cooperation from the President, ministries and sectors in the implementation of the programme, while proposing that President Tran Dai Quang write an article for the global citizenship network on the vision and future of Vietnam’s education as well as the country’s viewpoints on peace for humankind.

Prof. Torres also vowed to support the Vietnamese candidate for the UNESCO Director General position for the 2017-2021 tenure.-VNA