DTO/NDO- The UNESCO Executive Board on April 15 accepted selections to increase the standing of two Vietnamese Category II centres underneath UNESCO’s auspices for an extra eight years throughout its 224th session in Paris.
These embrace the International Centre of Research and Postgraduate Training in Mathematics (ICRTM) and the International Centre for Physics (ICP), each working underneath the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology (VAST). Under the adopted selections, the Executive Board authorised the Director-General of UNESCO to signal bilateral agreements with the Government of Viet Nam, together with memoranda of understanding with VAST. This represents a key exercise for the Ministry of Science and Technology in 2026, because it coordinates with VAST and the Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO to submit proposals to the Government for the signing of the agreements for the 2026–2034 interval, in line with the 2026 Law on International Treaties.
Earlier unbiased evaluations performed by UNESCO in September 2025 for ICRTM and October 2025 for ICP yielded constructive outcomes. International specialists recognised the numerous progress made by each centres in fulfilling their missions, together with conducting high-level analysis, offering postgraduate coaching, strengthening partnerships at nationwide, regional and worldwide ranges, and establishing strong governance, monetary and operational frameworks.
The assessments confirmed that the authorized and operational frameworks of the 2 centres in Viet Nam are aligned with UNESCO’s present requirements. With the following eight-year extension cycle, Viet Nam goals to develop cooperation with worldwide scientific centres, in addition to with ASEAN international locations and African companions, positioning ICRTM and ICP as regional centres of excellence in basic sciences. These efforts are anticipated to contribute meaningfully to nationwide improvement and to the implementation of the United Nations’ International Decade of Sciences for Sustainable Development (2024–2033), led by UNESCO.
According to Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van, Chairman of the Viet Nam National Commission for UNESCO, the extension demonstrates the nation’s governance capability and powerful dedication to the event of basic sciences.
In line with the Politburo’s Resolution No. 57-NQ/TW on breakthroughs in science, expertise, innovation and nationwide digital transformation, and Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW on worldwide integration in the brand new scenario, the 2 centres will not be solely serving nationwide pursuits however are additionally rising as data hubs, selling South–South cooperation inside ASEAN and the Asia-Pacific area, thereby positioning Viet Nam as an energetic node in the worldwide scientific community.
Professor Tran Hong Thai, President of VAST, affirmed that the academy will proceed to prioritise arithmetic and physics, together with making certain staffing for scientists, attracting younger expertise, increasing worldwide cooperation and welcoming overseas specialists for long-term engagement in Viet Nam. The objective is to develop ICRTM and ICP into core establishments driving Viet Nam’s scientific development, contributing not solely to basic analysis but in addition to sensible purposes corresponding to knowledge modelling, climate forecasting and rising technological techniques.
Ambassador Nguyen Thi Van Anh, Permanent Representative of Viet Nam to UNESCO, described the event as a major milestone, reaffirming the status, standing and substantive contributions of Viet Nam’s basic sciences on the worldwide stage. It additionally types half of the commemorations marking 50 years of cooperation between Viet Nam and UNESCO (1976–2026).
The continued operation and enhancement of these centres mirror Viet Nam’s coverage of positioning science, expertise and innovation as key drivers of improvement, whereas carefully linking scientific development with deeper and extra substantive worldwide integration in the present context, she mentioned.
(Source: NDO)
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