Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of Can Tho Nguyen Ngoc He has a meeting with Australian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Sarah Hooper on September 11 (Photo: VNA) Can Tho (VNA) – Vice Chairman of the People’s Committee of theMekong Delta city of Can Tho Nguyen Ngoc He and Australian Consul General in HoChi Minh City Sarah Hooper discussed a cooperation plan in education and hi-techagriculture, during a reception in Can Tho on September 11.
He said Can Tho iscurrently carrying out a project on raising awareness of creative education partlyfunded by Australia’s Asia Music and Performing Arts Education (AMPA), with anaim to create an innovative education model that empowers students to takecentre stage in their learning.
Based on the project'soutcomes, he expressed his hope for further connections in bilateral educationcooperation. Specifically, he suggested building Australian spaces atuniversities in Can Tho, exchanging workforce, and providing volunteers forEnglish language teaching, contributing to tightening friendship betweenVietnam and Australia.
Can Tho welcomes and offers all possible support forAustralian firms to explore opportunities in hi-tech agriculture, he said.
To launch a project on promoting the transfer, mastery and developmentof foreign technologies in Vietnam in priority fields until 2025, withorientations toward 2030, he said Can Tho hopes that Australian firms willexplore and invest in such priority areas as information and communications, hi-techagriculture adapted to climate change, preservation and processing ofagro-aquatic products, and infrastructure for smart city development.
Can Tho wishes to enhanceinternational cooperation with Vietnamese organisations and community inAustralia, as well as Australian enterprises, in research and development, technologytransfer, and workforce training in priority areas, he added.
Hooper, for her part, pledged that during her tenure, she will actively engagein activities to reinforce fine diplomatic relations between Vietnam andAustralia, with a particular focus on ties with Can Tho.
She said her office has rolled out the Direct AidProgramme (DAP) initiatives in Can Tho in various areas, including clean ruralwater, rural bridge construction, scholarships for students and teachers,contributing to local socio-economic development.
Australia will continue stepping up collaboration with CanTho to develop hi-tech agriculture through the Australian Centre forInternational Agricultural Research as well as facilitating student exchangesin education field, she added. According to her, the Australian Government has invested 200million USD in Vietnam, with a significant focus on climate change adaptationand sustainable growth in the Mekong Delta.
On September 18-19, the Australian Embassy in Hanoi and CanTho will hold several activities to celebrate the 50th anniversaryof the Vietnam-Australia diplomatic ties, with a conference showcasing Australia’seducation and cuisine being a highlight./.
