Vietnam has gained remarkable achievements in the international integration process, said Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister Haim Divon, who is also Head of Israel’s international aid and cooperation agency (MASHAV) at a press briefing in Hanoi on November 6.

Mr Divon said that Vietnam is one of two countries in Asia receiving special attention from Israel, just after China. “I am much impressed by Vietnam’s rapid socio-economic development. You (Vietnam) are eager to develop, and are successfully implementing national development,” he said.

According to the Israeli Deputy Foreign Minister, Israel wants to strengthen cooperation with Vietnam in three fields namely agriculture, human resource development and information technology (IT). The two countries have carried out many cooperative programmes in these fields and Israel hopes to expand the cooperation in the future.

Mr Divon said that Israel wants to share experiences in overcoming the challenges facing developing countries. Vietnam has great potential for agricultural development and Israel is willing to help Vietnam develop such fields as irrigation, waste water treatment, telecommunication and agricultural development, he said.

Annually, MASHAV organizes training courses for foreign experts, including those from Vietnam. Israel gives top priority to cooperation with Vietnam in developing human resources.

During his four-day official visit to Vietnam from November 5-8, Mr Divon held a working session with the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Natural Resource and Investment, the Ministry of Construction and other socio-political organizations with the aim of boosting cooperative relations between Israel and Vietnam,

On November 5, Mr Divon signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on the establishment of a modern experimental dairy farming project worth over US$2.540 million (nearly VND41 billion) with Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee. He also attended the opening ceremony of a training course on telecommunications for Vietnamese IT experts in HCM City. (VOV)