A Belgian delegation of rectors of a dozen Belgian universities wrapped up their visit to Vietnam , which aimed to boost training and research activities between Belgian and Vietnamese universities, on April 16.

Speaking at a meeting to review the visit at the Ho Chi Minh City National University the same day, Belgian Ambassador to Vietnam Hubert Cooreman stressed that the visit was an important step forward to meet Vietnam ’s expectation of training 20,000 PhDs.

Belgian universities have used the opportunity to promote the exchange of students and lecturers and expand skill training programmes for students in marketing and business.

The two sides signed six agreements on tertiary education cooperation during the visit.

Education cooperation between Vietnam and Belgium cover agriculture study, environment and rural development, health, infrastructure and transportation, finance and tourism.

Tertiary education cooperation is one of the foundations of development cooperation between Belgium and Vietnam , which accounts for 15 percent of Belgian official development assistance to Vietnam , equivalent to 2 million EUR a year./.