The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST) and the National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS) of France have agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation, especially in the fields of their strength.

The consensus was reached during a ceremony to celebrate the 30 th anniversary of cooperation between the two institutions in Paris on July 3.

Addressing the event, VAST President Chau Van Minh said, during the three decades, the cooperation between VAST and CNRS has been deployed in all areas of science and technology, with hundreds of projects jointly implemented by Vietnamese and French scientists.

The cooperation, according to Minh, also takes diverse forms, from scientist exchanges to International Projects of Scientific Cooperation (PISC), International Associated Laboratories (LIA) like LIA Formath Vietnam chaired by the Institute of Mathematics of Vietnam , as well as International Research Networks (GDRI).

Besides bilateral cooperation schemes, there have been numerous inter-disciplinary projects involving many laboratories and research institutes from both countries, he added.

Over the last 30 years, more than 1,000 Vietnamese researchers have been sent to CNRS for scientific exchange, internship and master and doctorate degree courses. Among them, over 100 officials have gained their degrees and become key staff in VAST ’s labs.

The two institutions also successfully organised 14 special courses in Vietnam , which were considered an effective way of cooperation which should be expanded, Minh noted.

For his part, CNRS President Alain Fuchs highlighted Vietnam as one of a few countries having deep and traditional ties with France , which serves as a firm foundation for the cooperation between their scientific circles.

He expressed his belief in the equal partnership relations in cooperative projects, and urged for further cooperation combining training and research in topics of mutual interest.

Also at the ceremony, the two sides signed an agreement on a LIA FOCOMAT in composite materials research in the period 2013-2016.

During their visit to France from June 30-July 6, the VAST delegation led by Prof. Chau Van Minh met with Minister of Foreign Trade Nicole Bricq, Astrium-an affiliate of the European Aeronautic Defence and Space Company , the French National Museum of Natural History and CNRS affiliated bodies.-VNA