The 15th ASEAN Ministerial Meeting on Science and Technology (AMMST 15) took place in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on November 12 with the participation of over 100 representatives from 10 member countries and the ASEAN Secretariat.

The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Minster of Science and Technology Le Dinh Tien.

Opening the event, Malaysian Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation Ewon Ebin said ASEAN needs to strengthen the science, technology and innovation capabilities of member countries to benefit the entire region.

Science, technology and innovation (STI) are regarded as powerful determinants that enable economic development, education and environment protection, he added.

At the meeting, the ministers discussed the implementation of the ASEAN Plan of Action on Science, Technology and Innovation (APASTI). They agreed to explore new financial modalities to support a wider range of activities, including innovation-driven initiatives on new projects on malaria, food, marine biotechnology, remote sensing and young scientists' exchange programmes.

They also touched upon the establishment of an ASEAN Science, Technology and Innovation Fund, scientific standards in the region, as well as STI roadmaps and action plans in the 2015 – 2020 period.

At AMMST 15, Vietnam delivered a report showing its support to STI’s priorities along with opinions on the building of the ASEAN Science Fund and other tabled issues.

Via an ASEAN cooperation mechanism, Vietnam has contributed to the intensified ties within the bloc and between the association with its partners, including China, the Republic of Korea, Japan, India and Australia. This has helped connect Vietnam’s science community to that of regional nations, facilitating the country’s integration into the global community.-VNA