In response to General Secretary To Lam's call to lead Vietnam into a "rising era," a seminar entitled "The Role of Vietnamese Intellectuals in France in Advancing Science and Technology Development in the New Era" was held on November 30 in Paris.

Vietnamese Ambassador to France Dinh Toan Thang at the event. Photos: VNA

Vietnamese expatriate intellectuals gathered in Paris to discuss their contributions to Vietnam's scientific and technological development in the new era. At the seminar, nearly 80 Vietnamese expatriates listened to passionate insights from distinguished speakers, including professors, doctors, and experts working in critical fields in France such as economics, healthcare, energy, construction, and higher education. These are key areas of focus for the Vietnamese Party and State as the country looks to future growth.

Prof.-Dr. Nguyen Duc Khuong expressed his concerns about the challenges Vietnam faces in becoming an economically developed nation by 2045, while Dr. Vo Toan Trung emphasized the importance of developing the country's medical and biotechnology sectors as a pillar of Vietnam's economy.

Meanwhile, Dr. Tran Duy Chau advocated the involvement of Vietnamese expatriates in building Vietnam's energy infrastructure, particularly in nuclear and green energy, while Prof. Dr. Ha Minh Cuong proposed solutions for developing an education and training strategy to build a skilled workforce of scientists and technicians.

Each speaker addressed a different topic, but all shared a common goal: to contribute to the development of Vietnam during its "rising era," as called for by General Secretary To Lam. The delegates expressed their desire to contribute their expertise and efforts to the progress of the homeland and hoped that the Vietnamese government would recognize these potentials and make the most effective use of this potential.

In an interview with Vietnam News Agency in France, Dr. Vo Toan Trung noted that the overseas intellectual community is large and influential across many countries. He emphasized that to help Vietnam become a modern, developed, and prosperous nation, the government should develop a strategic approach that focuses on key sectors like biotechnology, semiconductors, information technology, digital transformation, and green energy.

Prof. Dr. Ha Minh Cuong at the event.

In addition to harnessing internal resources, Vietnam should make the most of external support, particularly from the Vietnamese intellectuals abroad. "The expertise of the overseas intellectual community is a valuable resource that can assist the country in many areas, from strategic development consulting to training a high-quality workforce to participating in or leading technology projects that will help achieve national goals," he stressed.

Impressed by the passion and commitment of the Vietnamese expatriates, Vietnam’s Ambassador to France, Dinh Toan Thang, praised the seminar as "practical, beneficial, and meaningful," especially as the country prepares for its new era of development.

"The presentations and contributions were closely aligned with domestic goals and should be compiled into a document for policymakers to study and refer to. It is important to work with the overseas Vietnamese intellectuals to implement these ideas," the Ambassador noted.

Ambassador Thang also emphasized the importance of the Vietnamese intellectual community in France in contributing to the country's development strategy and hoped that the initiative would continue, attracting more Vietnamese expatriates and French friends to support Vietnam's development. This would not only elevate the Vietnam-France strategic partnership but also turn ideas into actions for the betterment of Vietnam, he noted.