On Wednesday, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc chaired a national online meeting to discuss scientific and technological issues.

Prime Minister Phuc addressing the event

In Da Nang, municipal People’s Committee Vice Chairman Dang Viet Dung and representatives from the city authorities were participants.

As regards this year’s key tasks, the focus will be on promoting the vital role of the scientific and technological sector in enhancing the productivity and competitiveness of the country’s economy, and ensuring national security. 

Vice Chairman Dung highlighted the significance of the Politburo’s Directive No 33-NQ/TW about promoting the progress of Da Nang in the current context of the country’s industrialisation and modernisation.  Under the Directive, importance will be attached to developing Da Nang into a large socio-economic hub in the central region, and one of the leading scientific and technological hubs in the south central region and highlands, and in Viet Nam as a whole.

To realise these goals, relevant local agencies must find more effective solutions to help local businesses, and implement scientific and technological tasks in combination with bolstering the city’s socio-economic progress in the years ahead.

Vice Chairman Dung presenting his proposals

Vice Chairman Dung also proposed that the national government, ministries and government agencies should create more favourable conditions for Da Nang to become a scientific and technological hub in the central region.  He also said that he would like the national government to issue preferential policies for the Da Nang Hi-tech Park and promote start-up activities in the city.

Furthermore, the go-ahead should be given to the city to upgrade the existing municipal Biotechnological Centre into a centre for promoting biotechnological research and applications for the agricultural and pharmaceutical sectors of southern and central localities.

Addressing the event, Prime Minister Phuc highly applauded the national scientific and technological sector for its outstanding efforts in enabling the country to record numerous socio-economic achievements over recent years, and to secure the nation’s defence and security.

He also underlined the need to create open mechanisms for developing potential scientific and technological talents, and help local businesses to secure the intellectual property rights of their brand names.  One priority should be to conduct even more applied research activities, enhancing the country’s international cooperation activities and ensuring its deeper global integration. 

Localities nationwide should renew their scientific and technological policies and make greater efforts to secure this aspect’s position as an important driving force for accelerating their socio-economic progress in future years.