Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan held a reception for the Chairman of Austria’s Krems University, Professor Heinz Boyer, in Hanoi on April 12.

Nhan voiced pleasure at the cooperation between Vietnam and Austria, particularly in politics–diplomacy, economics–trade–investment and culture–education.

He added that Austrian President Heinz Fischer’s working visit to Vietnam in 2012 strongly boosted bilateral cooperation between the two countries.

The Deputy PM stressed that education plays an important role in Vietnam–Austria ties, in which Krems University is the highlight, with a number of cooperative programmes with several universities in Vietnam, including the National University-Hanoi and National University-Ho Chi Minh City.

He expressed his hope that Krems University will enhance ties with Vietnam ’s universities and provide scholarships for Vietnamese students.

Boyer spoke highly of Vietnam’s policy to develop high quality education and training, adding that he hopes ties between the two countries will develop in more areas.

The same day, Deputy PM Nhan met with the President of the Olympic Council of Asia (OCA) cum President of the Association of National Olympic Committee (ANOC), Sheikh Ahmad Al-Fahad Al-Sabah.

Nhan thanked the OCA president for his support to sport development in Vietnam , especially those related to Olympic movements and events.

The Deputy PM affirmed Vietnam’s pledge to follow OCA requirements to host the 5th Asian Beach Games in 2016 and 18th Asian Games in 2019. Vietnam has infrastructure to successfully organise the events, he added.

The OCA president expressed his belief that after these two events, Vietnam’s sporting image will be popularised in the Asian region.-VNA