The State President has spoken highly of efforts in the study of Vietnamese culture made by Prof. Philip Alperson and his associates from the US ’s Temple University.

While receiving Prof. Alperson, Director of the Vietnam Philosophy, Culture and Society Centre, in Hanoi on Aug. 7, President Triet stressed the great value and significance of Vietnamese culture.

Experiencing difficulties and challenges in its thousand-year-old history of national construction, defence and development, Vietnam has long maintained and promoted its cultural identity, Triet said.

Studies made by foreign centres like the one at Temple University help the Vietnamese people better understand their own culture as well as encourage their love of country and contribute to national construction, he added.

Sharing views on new steps in the two countries’ development, President Triet stressed that educational cooperation is always high on the agenda of talks between the two countries’ leaders. Vietnam wishes to enhance cooperation in this field with the US , he underscored.

Briefing the President on his centre’s activities, Pro. Alperson emphasised that Temple University is the sole educational institution in the US to pursue the goal of developing comprehensive studies on Vietnam.

Since its establishment in September 2004, the centre has worked together with Vietnamese colleagues to organise study programmes, workshops, academic exchange, and courses on the Vietnamese language as well as producing films on the Vietnamese culture.

Prof. Alperson affirmed that through their studies, his centre wishes to increase understanding between the two peoples./.