Welcome Speech to Hon. Murray McCully, New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs at University of Economics and Business, VNU
His Excellency! Hon. Murray McCully, New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs,
Her Excellency! Ms Heather Riddell, New Zealand Ambassador in Vietnam,
Distinguished guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Good morning!
First of all, on behalf of the Board of University of Economics and Bussiness, Vietnam National University, Hanoi (UEB-VNU), I would like to send my warmest greeting to Hon Murray McCully for his first visit to Vietnam and have a speech about “The Relationship between New Zealand and Vietnam” at UEB. I also would like to send my special welcome to distinguished guests, faculties and students for present in the Seminar organized by UEB-VNU.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Nowaday, globalization is making countries more mutually associated, which brings many opportunities as well as challenges for each nation’s development. It is also true for New Zealand and Vietnam. Diplomatic relationship between New Zealand and Vietnam were established since 1975. In recent years official and business contacts have grown significantly, assisted by rapid economic growth in Viet Nam and its deepening integration into the region and the world. In addition to these bilateral linkages, Ministers and officials from two countries meet regularly in multilateral and regional forums, such as the United Nations and its specialised agencies, the World Trade Organisation (WTO), APEC, the East Asia Summit (EAS) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF where New Zealand has dialogue partner status).
Major new service sector opportunities for New Zealand are opening up in the education and consultancy sectors. At present over 1.000 Vietnamese students are studying in New Zealand, at all levels from short-course training to doctoral research.
With the vision to become a research university and to be ranked among leading universities in Asia in the year 2030, UEB encourages cooperating with reputed universities in the world. Under the relationship framework between the two countries, University of Economics and Business, Vietnam National University, Hanoi established partnership with Massey University, New Zealand since 2006 to implement collaborative educational programs. In 2008, University of Economics and Business and Massey University offered Ph.D program in Economics and Business under the funding of Project 322- Ministry of Education and Training. In 2009, two universities continued to sign an agreement to develop the 2+2 Bachelor of Business Studies in Economics and Finance. Currently, we have 22 students in this program for the first intake. In partnership with Massey University, UEB aims to enhance the faculties’ capacity as well as the quality of teaching and research. The international joint training programs between University of Economics and Business and Massey University have been successfully started. However, there are still several limitations and challenges should be solved in order to achieve sustainable development such those programs in the future.
Therefore, I hope that this event will be an opportunity for all of you directly discuss and exchange with Hon. Murray McCully about two our countries in general and development strategy for education, especially for promoting the educational programs between UEB and Zew Zealand partners.
On this occasion, on behalf of University of Economics and Business, I would like to express my sincere thanks to New Zealand Embassy in Vietnam, especially Ms Heather Riddell, New Zealand Ambassador and Vietnam National University, Hanoi for cooperating with UEB in organizing this event. I specially would like to thank Mr. Hon Murray McCully for spending his precious time making presentation and discussing with faculties and students at UEB.
Our traditional Tet is coming, I would like to wish distinguished guests, lecturers and students good health, happiness and success.
Thank you!