Canberra: Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met with leaders and representatives of the Vietnamese Australian Scholars and Experts Association (VASEA) in Canberra on March 9 morning (local time) as part of his official visit to Australia. VASEA was formed in 2023 by gathering Vietnamese intellectual clubs across Australia. These clubs were founded in 2018, shortly after the two nations upgraded their relationship to a strategic partnership. The association aims to leverage the knowledge and experience of its members and the network of connections with Australian scientists and experts to contribute to Vietnam's development, particularly in such emerging fields as digital transformation, green transition, innovation, support for small- and medium-sized enterprises, and workforce training, stated VASEA Co-founder and President Professor Nghiem Duc Long from the University of Technology Sydney (UTS). VASEA and its members can act as bridges, promoting Australian partners to provide more and better scholarships for Vietnamese students. At the working session, PM Chinh stressed that the framework of the freshly established Vietnam-Australia comprehensive strategic partnership offers favourable conditions for the nations' friendship associations to step up cooperation, people-to-people exchanges and contributions to the growth of the bilateral relations. He affirmed that the Party and the State consider overseas Vietnamese an integral part of the Vietnamese community, with a desire for Vietnamese intellectuals and experts abroad to actively apply the expertise and technology acquired internationally to the specific conditions in Vietnam, promoting science, technology, and innovation and making practical contributions to the country's development through specific programmes and projects. The Government leader recommended VASEA to maximise the role of Vietnamese scholars and experts in Australia, further connect with Australian research institutions, training facilities and businesses, and cooperate with Vietnamese m inistries and sectors to boost cooperation in the areas of science-technology, education-training, economy-trade- investment, artificial intelligence, semiconductors, deep processing of minerals, green transport, and carbon credits. Vietnam also needs support for farmers, agricultural economic development, and climate change response, especially in the Mekong Delta region, he noted. The PM took this occasion to assign the Ministry of Education and Training to work directly with VASEA to promote bilateral engagements in human resource training. He hoped Australia will increase scholarships for Vietnam in the fields of digital transformation, green transition, circular economy, and sharing economy. PM Chinh tasked the Ministry of Science and Technology with studying the organisation of sci-tech awards honouring overseas Vietnamese, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs with developing a project on holding a forum for overseas Vietnamese scholars and experts in Vietnam. The working session was the PM's final ac tivity in Australia. Following this event, the leader, his spouse, and a high-level Vietnamese delegation will depart Canberra for Auckland for an official visit to New Zealand from March 10 to 11./. Source: Vietnam News Agency France, Prime Minister discusses with organizers of world-class events. both car races and art exhibits along with visiting department stores to expand opportunities for Thai designers Today (March 9, 2024) at 11:20 a.m. local time in Paris. The Republic of France, which is 6 hours slower than Thailand. Prime Minister Settha Thavisin revealed the results of discussions with organizers of events including world-class racing competitions and world-class art exhibitions. In France that today Miss Paetongthan Shinawatra, leader of the Pheu Thai Party, as Vice Chairman of the National Softpower Strategy Committee also participated in the discussion In consultation with the organizer of Formula E and the organizer who wishes to organize the competition in Thailand, it is considered Meets the needs of Thailand, knowing that the number of EV car reservations in the past fourth quarter More than 40% of reservations are for EVs, which is considered a high rate of use. Therefore, meeting each other is a good sign to p romote the use of electric cars. On this occasion, we also discussed making appointments with executives to visit potential locations that could be used to organize competitions. Chiang Mai Province, executives will come to visit. This is considered to support green sustainability as well. As for the second mission, the Prime Minister discussed with the organizers of Art Basel, who had invited them to organize an exhibition in Thailand. which if there are investors flying in It must be taken care of. About taxes Because Art Objects will be imported and this is considered an opportunity for Thai art. As for the discussion with Gallery Rafayette Department Store, which is considered to be the fifth generation owner, stated that Thai people come to spend at the department store, accounting for more than 2% of total sales. Thailand and France have had a long-standing relationship. and the department store plans to set aside space for new generation designer At the same time the Prime Minister was invited to set up a pop-up in Thailand, where the Prime Minister confirmed that within this year Thai designers will definitely have the opportunity to sell their products in the department store. and is sure to be an inspiration for a new generation of Thai designers. last part It is a retail store that has many Thai products for sale, such as importing more than 60,000 kilograms of Thai onions, which the Prime Minister wants to import more Thai products to sell. And if the FTA can be successfully negotiated, it will greatly facilitate Thai products. The Ministry of Commerce has been assigned to coordinate and help solve various problems. Ready to hope that on the 18th of this month, FTA negotiations will end so that Thai products can be displayed in a country that is known as the Fashion Capital City of the World. Source: Thai News Agency