This cooperation aims to help Vietnam train human resources in emerging industries and effectively explore marine, space, and underground resources, he said.

Chinh emphasized that after 30 years of diplomatic relations, Vietnam-US relations have achieved remarkable milestones, and the two countries have now become comprehensive strategic partners. Education-training, science-technology, and innovation have been identified as major pillars of cooperation, yielding significant results.

He pointed to the fact that approximately 30,000 Vietnamese students are studying in the US, ranking fifth among countries sending students to the country. In addition, there are around 50 joint training programmes between higher education institutions in both countries, mainly at the undergraduate and master’s levels, and many graduates have gone on to achieve great success in various organisations and enterprises.

According to the PM, Vietnam is building its development strategy based on three key pillars, namely a law-governed socialist state, a socialist democracy, and a socialist-oriented market economy. It is focused on three strategic breakthroughs in institutions, infrastructure, and human resources, especially high-quality human capital. It aims to drive breakthroughs in science, technology, innovation, and national digital transformation.

The country has introduced key policies and directives on education-training and science-technology to fundamentally and comprehensively reform its education system, fostering breakthroughs in innovation and digital transformation. The government has committed to allocating up to 20% of its total state budget expenditure for education - training to improve intellectual capacity, workforce development, and talent cultivation while promoting holistic human development in terms of morality, intellect, physical health, and aesthetics.

He also stated that Vietnam aims for 8% economic growth in 2025, laying the foundation for double-digit growth in subsequent years.

To achieve this, he said, it must adopt transformative strategies, shifting its operational framework to enhance government efficiency, administrative reform, and proactive services for businesses and citizens. The country is prioritizing science-technology, innovation, and digital transformation as key growth drivers while emphasizing private sector-led economic expansion. Within this context, education and training play a crucial role.

The Prime Minister encouraged long-term, sustainable, and effective cooperation plans, especially those on student and faculty exchanges, joint training programs, and collaborative research projects in new fields, particularly in marine, space, and underground exploration, from the two countries’ institutions.  

He also requested that the US expand scholarship programmes and tuition incentives for Vietnamese students and researchers.

Acknowledging recent investments from major US corporations such as Intel, NVIDIA, and Apple in Vietnam, the Prime Minister encouraged universities to establish concrete partnerships, particularly in high-tech industries, AI, semiconductors, biotechnology, and high-quality workforce training to meet the demands of enterprises in both countries.

Vietnam is also making efforts to balance trade with the US and sustain economic growth through various measures, including tariff reductions on key US products like timber and agricultural goods, as well as increased imports of aircraft, liquefied natural gas (LNG), and high-tech products, he said.

Finally, the Prime Minister called on US university leaders to advocate for the US government, under President Donald Trump, to officially recognize Vietnam as a market economy, lift high-tech export restrictions on Vietnam, and ease policies that may impact economic and trade relations, so as to ensure a more favourable environment for Vietnam’s continued development.

Speaking at the meeting, US Ambassador to Vietnam Marc E. Knapper and representatives from US universities attending the 2025 International Academic Partnership Program (IAPP) in Vietnam highly praised Vietnam’s development strategy, particularly in education - training.

Knapper affirmed the US’ commitment to cooperating with Vietnam in achieving its socio-economic development goals, especially in education-training, science-technology, innovation, and human resource enhancement, thereby further strengthening the Vietnam-US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Representatives from US universities introduced potential collaboration programmes with Vietnam, noting that IAPP 2025 serves as a strategic platform that connects Vietnamese and US universities, supporting the development of practical, effective, and sustainable cooperation plans.

At the IAPP 2025 event, 21 US universities and 30 Vietnamese universities discussed collaboration across various fields, including STEM, digital transformation, green transition, information and communication technology, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, automation, biotechnology, advanced materials, green energy, international law, sustainable agriculture, healthcare, education, Southeast Asian studies, and Vietnamese language studies.

Higher education must help promote sci-tech research and application, says PM

VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highlighted the higher education system’s crucial role in generating quality human resources and promoting the research and application of sci-tech and innovation for national development, during his visit to Vietnam National University (VNU) – Ho Chi Minh City on February 23.