Ha Noi (VNA) - Viet Nam and Belgium's Flanders region have agreed to boost bilateral cooperation in scientific and technological research and development.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) to this effect was signed by Vietnamese Minister of Science and Technology Hoang Van Phong and Belgium's Vice Minister-President and Flemish Minister for Economy, Enterprise, Science, Innovation and Foreign Trade Fientje Moerman in Ha Noi on May 10.

Accordingly, Viet Nam and Flanders agreed to share their reciprocal knowledge in science and technology over the 2008-2010 period. In the coming years, the exchange of scientific knowledge will focus on new materials, aquaculture, information and communication technology and tropical medicine.

Viet Nam and Flanders also plan to exchange highly qualified knowledge workers and take part together in multilateral research and development programmes.

Over the past few years, universities and research centres of Viet Nam and Flanders have established close partnerships. The Flemish Interuniversity Council is currently involved in an ongoing cooperation programme with Can Tho University and Ha Noi University of Technology, which is scheduled to expire in early 2008.

The Institute of Tropical Medicine in Flanders' Antwerp has also been cooperating with the Vietnamese National Institute for Malaria, Parasitology and Entomology and is now looking to extend its cooperation with Viet Nam's National Institute of Nutrition.-Enditem