(VNF) – A Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed between the Vietnam National University - Ho Chi Minh City (VNUHCM) and the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in Washington DC on December 16 (local time). The MoU focuses on promoting cooperation scientific research.

The signing of the MoU was completed on occasion of a working visit to the US by a delegation of HCM City officials led by Secretary of the municipal Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan.

According to the agreement, the two universities will enhance exchange of lecturers, scholars and managers in the fields of education and scientific research.

Vietnamese delegates at a working session during the visit (source: VNN)

In addition, the two sides will work together on developing joint research programmes in the fields of biomedical science and stem cell, as well as seeking research funding from their Governments and private resources.

Speaking at the signing ceremony, secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan expressed his hope for effective cooperation and support between the two universities in the mentioned fields.

He suggested the two sides to consider partnership in researching the application of artificial intelligence (robot) in remote diagnosis of serious diseases, especially cancer.

Scientific research, an outstanding strength of UCLA (source: UCLA)

Meanwhile, Director of the VNUHCM Huynh Thanh Dat stressed VNUHCM’s commitment to long-term collaboration with UCLA, expressing his hope that this will contribute to Vietnam’s education reform.

Director of the UCLA, Professor Gene Block, for his part, said he believes the MoU will help promote more effective collaboration, especially in the fields of common concern.

UCLA, founded in 1919, is a renowned university of the US, especially in scientific research.

The impact of UCLA's accomplishments reaches around the world. UCLA’s research is behind a portfolio of almost 3,000 inventions, and more than 140 companies have been created based on technology developed at UCLA.

UCLA is also the home to 13 Nobel Prize winners, a Fields medalist and two Turing Award winners./.

( VNF )