Hanoi promotes medical, educational ties with US’s Massachusetts state

Washington D.C. (VNA) – Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung held working sessions with authorities, business community and Harvard University in Boston city, the US state of Massachusetts during his visit from July 12-14.

Talking with Nam Pham, Assistant Secretary of Business Development and International Trade at the Massachusetts Governor Office, Chung said Hanoi wants to learn from the state’s latest advanced technologies in medicine, information technology and other cooperation areas.

He asked the state to facilitate the forming of twining relationship between Hanoi and Massachusetts.

According to Nam Pham, Massachusetts leads the way globally in the fields of biotechnology, information technology, finance, education and maritime trade. Both sides could partner in tourism, education and health care.

The Vietnamese delegation visited a lab specialising in stem cell regeneration and gene modification at the Massachusetts General Hospital, and learnt about regenerative medicine, cell stem, genetics and cancer treatment.

During a working session with Partners Healthcare International (PHI), one of the world’s leading medical groups, Chung said Hanoi wants to cooperate with PHI in cancer treatment, hospital and health insurance management, upgrade of local medical establishments, and building a database on public health care.

Both sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation in launching a modern and quality medical system in Hanoi and discussed planning for Hanoi’s health care system, utilising clinical services, enhancing community-based medical education, managing hospitals and building an international-standard general hospital in the capital city.

Hosting the delegation, Prof. Catherine E.Leopold from the Harvard Medical School introduced its learning model, and discussed the Partnership for Health Advancement in Vietnam and post-tertiary programmes.

Chung hoped that the school would provide Hanoi medical staff with the latest professional knowledge, open distance courses to select the most promising candidates for study at Harvard.

At a working session with the Harvard Kennedy School, the two sides looked into ways to promote ties in personnel training.

The Hanoi leader said his visit is meant to learn from the US’s experience in urban, transport and residential management, and health care policies. He spoke highly of the Vietnam Programme’s initiatives regarding reform of medical education and the importance of Fulbright University in high-quality personnel training in Vietnam.

Thomas Vallely, founder of the Vietnam Programme, expressed his willingness to help Hanoi improve public governance in the health sector and make planning for public health care and environment protection.

While in Massachusetts, the delegation visited MassChallenge, the world’s largest start-up incubator founded in 2010 with businesses from 50 countries worldwide, generating 10,000 jobs and earning 2 billion USD from 2010-2016.

They also called at Autodesk innovative technology area, the 160-year-old Omni Parker House where President Ho Chi Minh worked as a baker from 1912-1913 during his journey for national salvation, the Boston Police Headquarters and the Emergency Response Centre 911.-VNA