During his official visit to the United Kingdom (UK), Deputy PM, Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thien Nhan yesterday signed with British First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Peter Mandelson a joint statement on the establishment of the first Vietnam-UK public university.

Deputy PM Nguyen Thien Nhan (R) and the UK’s First Secretary of State, Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills Peter Mandelson (L) sign a joint statement on the establishment of the first Vietnam-UK public university, London, March 9, 2010 – Photo: VGP

The signing is a stepping-stone to boost the cooperation of Vietnam and the UK in training and education field. Both sides agreed to upgrade Da Nang University to be the Vietnam-UK Public University as it has all adequate potential of being an international standard tertiary facility.

The Vietnamese leader said that the main goal of the Ministry of Education and Training is to construct as many international standard university models as possible in Vietnam in order to improve the teaching and research quality at the tertiary level. At the same time, the Ministry will pilot new approaches of teaching management, particularly in the fields of administration, finance and quality management.

The UK is the country’s first-grade partner in this field, the leader continued.

From the UK side, Mr. Mandelson said that the UK will fully support Vietnam in fulfilling its goal of constructing international tertiary education.

Many progresses have been seen in the bilateral education and training cooperation between Vietnam and the UK in recent years. The number of Vietnamese students acquiring UK diplomas has increased yearly.

Until now, Vietnam has only one international standard university, namely the Vietnam-Germany University, which was already built and came into operation in Ho Chi Minh City.

Another successful agreement was signed the same day under which both countries pledged to raise their two-way trade turnover to US $3 billion in the coming years. The UK considers Vietnam as one of its 17 top prioritized markets.

Deputy PM, Minister Nhan reaffirmed that Vietnam will continue to accelerate its economic reform while strictly implementing its WTO commitments. The leader encouraged British enterprises to invest in Vietnam, especially in major sectors such as petroleum, finance-banking, telecommunication, and plane engine..

The two sides also issued a joint statement on enhancing the Vietnam – UK cooperation and developing public-private partnership (PPP) model for infrastructure development in Vietnam.

Earlier on the same day, Mr. Nhan had a meeting with Chairman of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Select Committee Mike Gapes.

The Vietnamese Deputy PM briefed about Vietnam’s socio-economic performance; policies of overcoming the economic crisis; economic achievements of 2009; and diplomacy policy of openness, self-reliance, multi-lateralization and diversification.

MP Mike Gapes spoke highly of the comprehensive advancement of the bilateral ties during the past years, confirming the UK’s determination to become Vietnam’s top all-around partner.