Vietnamese students attending the 18th Asian Physics Olympiad welcomed when returning home (Source: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The 19th Asian Physics Olympiad (APhO) kicked off at Hanoi’sUniversity of Science and Technology on May 6, attracting the participation of188 contestants from 25 countries and territories.
APhO, held annually since 2000, is currently the premierphysics competition for pre-university students aged below 20 from Asiancountries.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Vietnamese Minister ofEducation and Training Phung Xuan Nha said that this year, Vietnam is honouredto be the host of the 19th Asian Physics Olympiad, after 14 years, whichreflects the international community’s recognition of and belief in theVietnamese education’s development.
Nha stressed that Vietnam always considers basic sciences,including physics, to play a specially important role in boosting scientificand technological development, especially in the context of the fourthIndustrial Revolution.
The Vietnamese Government will pay more attention to physicdevelopment in the time ahead, he added.
APhO President Leong Chuan Kwek asked contestants to makefriends with others as many as possible to learn from their physical knowledgeas well as their dreams and their countries’ cultures.
Vietnam sends eight contestants to the 19th APhO, which istaking place from May 6-13.
The 18th Asian Physics Olympiad 2017 took place in Yakutsk,Russia, from May 1-9, with the participation of 153 contestants from 22countries and territories.
At the previous competition, Vietnam grabbed one gold, three silver, and threecertificates.-VNA