VUSTA has made outstanding contribution to the development cooperation and fulfilment of the ASEAN chairmanship 2020 amid the tremendous challenges of Covid-19

In 2020, the year in which Vietnam assumes the role of Chairman of ASEAN, VUSTA and its member organizations have performed well its international cooperation, assumed the role of responsible members and made practical contributions in people-to-people relations activities of Vietnam and multilateral mechanisms in the ASEAN region, making remarkable contribution to the success of the Vietnam’s Chairmanship of ASEAN.

Photo: VUSTA organized the 38 ^thConference of ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (CAFEO38) in Hanoi, 18-26 November 2020

As a member of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (AFEO), VUSTA has successfully hosted the 18 ^thCAFEO (in 2000), the 28 ^thCAFEO (in 2010) and the 38th CAFEO (in 2020). Especially in 2020, VUSTA hosted the successful organization of the 38 ^thConference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations in the online form with international delegates from November 18 to November 26, 2020. The conference attracted the participation of more than 1000 international delegates from 18 countries and territories, and more than 350 delegates in Vietnam. The Conference issued a Hanoi Declaration demonstrating the commitment and unity of the ASEAN engineering and technical community in building a cohesive and responsive ASEAN community.

VUSTA has actively mobilized its member organizations and affiliates to participate in AFEO's working groups, initiated specialized initiatives and actively learned, exchanged and cooperated with regional partners. CAFEO38 was highly appreciated by the international community for the substance and quality of the different programs as well as the participation of engineers and technicians from ASEAN countries and partner countries. 

VUSTA has also contributed to the success of the ASEAN People's Forum 2020 chaired by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. VUSTA staff has assumed important roles in the Regional Organizing Committee of the Forum while mobilizing affiliated organizations to participate in organizing seminars and taking the leading role of different clusters of the forum. VUSTA's active participation in the Forum has contributed to the success of the Forum, especially the content of the Forum's Joint Statement has contributed to enhancing the status of the Vietnamese people's organizations, promoting Vietnam’s stremendous achievements in the fight against Covid-19 and government’s efforts to protect the society and protect the people and the most disadvantaged groups affected by Covid.

Many of VUSTA's national scientific and technical associations are members of ASEAN's specialized organizations. In 2020, many member associations of VUSTA have actively contributed to the success of the ASEAN Chairmanship by hosting or participating in conferences and mechanisms of regional organizations in which they are a member. Some names are the Viet Nam Law Association, the Viet Nam Economics Association, the Viet Nam Fisheries Association, the Viet Nam Physics Association, Vietnam association of geodesy cartography and remote sensing, Viet Nam Sociology Association... The national associations host major scientific events with the participation of leading scientists in the world, both contributes to strengthening scientific cooperation and promoting the support of the international scientific community for the country’s policies in international arena, especially the issue of Vietnam's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In the field of Development Cooperation, VUSTA and its member and affiliated organizations have actively contributed to the development and integration of the country, through resource mobilization and cooperation with domestic and international partners.

Development cooperation is the strength of VUSTA and its affiliated science and technology organizations. In the period 2015-2020, in the context of a sharp reduction in foreign aid sources, science and technology organizations under VUSTA still make efforts to mobilize and maintain a mobilization of over 10 million USD per year, with 540 projects with a total aid value of approximately 101.8 million USD in the past 5 years.

In 2020 alone, with difficulties caused by the Covid epidemic, 33 science and technology organizations under VUSTA have mobilized 53 projects with a total aid value of approximately 13.8 million USD. In particular, the majority of projects focus on the areas of integrated economic development, sustainable poverty reduction, health, education, solving social problems, war consequences, relief and natural disaster prevention, environmental protection and biodiversity conservation. Projects are implemented in areas facing many difficulties, supporting disadvantaged groups in society such as people with HIV, people with disabilities, victims of human trafficking and gender violence.

Photo: VUSTA organized Marine Science and Technology Forum

For VUSTA, performing the function of coordinating the activities of its member and affiliated organizations, VUSTA has actively formed annual mechanisms and forums focusing on the key topics of the development cooperation. Specifically:

Firstly, VUSTA has mobilized the participation of scientists, research institutes and universities to discuss and make recommendations on major issues related to sustainable development and international integration, contributing to the implementation of important directives and resolutions of the Party’s Central Committee, the National Assembly and the Government. These annual forums can be mentioned such as: Sustainable Development Forum of the Mekong Delta (Mekong Forum), contributing to the implementation of Resolution No. 120 in 2018 of the Government on sustainable development of the Mekong Delta; The Forum on Marine Science and Technology contributes to the implementation of the Central Executive Committee's Resolution No. 36 in 2018 on the Sustainable Marine Economic Development Strategy to 2020, vision to 2045. The forum themed "Toward a national sustainable development strategy in the context of the new normal and global climate change" and the event "Networking for Cooperation and Development".

Through the organization of the above forums, VUSTA has gathered opinions of scientists and experts, sent them to the competent authorities, which have been highly recognized and appreciated by these agencies.

Secondly, VUSTA has played an active and responsible membership in the Interagency Working Group on Sustainable Development (sustainable development), participating in the national process of implementing the sustainable development goals, building the Action Plan to implementation of the 2030 Agenda on Sustainable Development, the Voluntary National Review of the Implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals of Vietnam submitted to the United Nations in 2018 (VNR 2018). At the same time, VUSTA has actively developed VUSTA's Sustainable Development Report for the 2016-2020 period, contributing to promoting the role of organizations in the VUSTA system for sustainable development and contributing ideas, cases studies and data to the national sustainable development report.

Thirdly, international cooperation projects led and implemented by VUSTA Head office aim to serve the functions of VUSTA, which are the functions of uniting and coordinating members' associations in research and technology transfer, communication for environmental protection, climate change, social assessment and criticism, communication and knowledge dissemination, arousing and promoting the innovation spirit of science and technology intellectuals to contribute to the development of the country.

There are many atttributes to achieve the above mentioned results, in which the following two lessons are most important. The first lesson is about the VUSTA’s leadership and directions that adhere to the Party's guidelines and policies on people-to-people relations, international integration, actively proposing initiatives in international cooperation in accordance with the functions, tasks and missions of the organization. VUSTA's programs, projects and initiatives in the field of international cooperation are in line with the Party's directives, the Government's strategies and plans. Under these frameworks, the international coopeation activities of VUSTA are priotiezed and in accordance with the unique strengths of VUSTA, that is the abiligy to brings together multidisciplinary experts and scientists across the country.

Putting capacity building and still training for staff via scientific research activities is the second lesson learnt. VUSTA pays special attention and creates conditions for VUSTA's external affairs staff to conduct research activities, participate in the implementation of important tasks associated with the mission, functions and duties of the organization.

VUSTA's international cooperation activities have contributeed not only to the fulfilment of the political responsibility of the socio-political organization of the Vietnamese science and technology intellectuals in the implementation of the people-to-people relations policy; participation to fight for the protection of national interests; for peace and cooperation in the region, and enhancement of national image and status, but also help to mobilize international resources for the development of the country, developing the science and technology, training high-tech human resources, and strengthening staff qualification and the quality of research and consultancies, thereby improving the efficiency and substance of the people-to-people relations.

Author: Duong Thi Nga, MA.  Director General for International Cooperation, VUSTA