Prof Aumann is in Hanoi to attend an international seminar on Public Economic Theory (PET06) held by the University of National Economics and the Association for Public Economic Theory (APET).

Prof Aumann expressed his delight at visiting Vietnam for the first time and seeing with his own eyes Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements. The professor and his fellows said Vietnam is playing an important role in the region and the world and they wanted to cooperate with Vietnam in academics and economic management

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung welcomed Prof Aumann and world-leading economists on a visit to Vietnam to attend the seminar. The PM highlighted the initiative to hold the seminar, considering it an opportunity for domestic and international experts to share experiences in public economic theory.

The seminar is of great significance for economic management and development in Vietnam and further academic cooperation research on Vietnamese and Asian economies, Mr Dung said.

The Vietnamese PM stressed that Vietnam will continue its international economic integration process. He said in the coming period Vietnam will face many challenges while implementing its doi moi (renewal) process to achieve sustainable development. He expressed his hope that international economists will cooperate with Vietnam in economic development and public economic theory.

Earlier, Prof Aumann met with the press. When asked about the coming challenges facing Vietnam after the country joins the World Trade Organisation (WTO), Prof Aumann said Vietnam should focus on education training at all levels, and training in scientific technology and economics.

Prof Robert Aumann and Prof Thomas Schelling were co-winners of the 2005 Nobel Economic Sciences prize “for having enhanced understanding of conflict and cooperation through game-theory analysis".