Japan and Vietnam signed an exchange of notes on a human resource development scholarship with a budget of JPY329 million JPY (roughly USD4.16 million) in Hanoi on July 20.

The scheme will send 29 Vietnamese students to Japan in 2011 for master degree courses in law, public policy, business administration, economics, agriculture, information technology, environmental policy and international relations.

The scheme began in March as follow-up of a similiar programme which in the last decade benefited 304 Vietnamese students at a total cost of over JPY4 billion.

The Minister of Education and Training, Pham Vu Luan, expressed thanks to Japan for its valuable assistance in high-quality human resource development.

“Over the past 10 years, a number of the programme beneficiaries have come back to Vietnam and actively served the national development cause,” said the educational leader.

He confirmed his high expectation for the programme to continue in the next year and beyond.

Japanese Ambassador Yasuaki Tanizaki promised further assistance in human resource development, especially in high-quality personnel, for Vietnam.

“Vietnam is engaged in the national industrialisation and modernisation phase that according to Japan’s experience should focus on two major needs ─ infrastructure and human resources,” said the diplomat.