Vietnam always attaches importance to intensifying its participation andcontributions to international organisations and forums, including theSoutheast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO), saidPresident Truong Tan Sang.

Sang made the remarks athis opening speech to the 47th conference of SEAMEO Council thatopened in Hanoi on March 20.

As Chair of theSEAMEO Council this year, Vietnam will do its utmost together with othermember countries to fulfil the signed cooperation programmes of theorganisation, for development and prosperity of each member country, andfor peace, stability, cooperation and development in Southeast Asia andthe world, he affirmed.

The event is taking placeat a time when the region and the world are experiencing significantchanges in politics, security, economics, culture and social affairs,offering both opportunities and challenges, the State leader said.

He highlighted a policy forum themed, “Lifelong Learning: Vision andPolicy”, which he said is also an important orientation in theeducation-training development strategy of each country.

Over the past years, the State and Government of Vietnam hasconsidered education-training to be a top priority, Sang said, notingthe country’s heavy investment in human resources and putting forthmechanisms and policies for the sector.

Thoseefforts paid off with the quality of education improving significantly,and social and gender equality in education recording encouragingachievements, the leader said.

In 2000, Vietnamfulfilled the UN Millennium Development Goal of illiteracy eradicationand universal primacy education ahead of schedule.

The country aims to have an advanced education sector by 2020, which canmeet industrialisation, modernisation and international integrationrequirements, Sang said.

He thanked the support andcooperation of other country members to help Vietnam assume therole of SEAMEO Council Chair and fulfilling the country’s educationgoals.

The event gathered 200 delegates from 18countries, including education ministers, high-level governmenteducation officials and representatives from internationalorganisations, from 11 SEAMEO member states, associate members,affiliate organisations, regional centres and development partners.

High on the agenda of the two-day conference are discussions onaccelerating the “Education for All” programme and post-2015 developmentand education in Southeast Asia .

Established in1965, SEAMEO has become the largest international organisation inSoutheast Asia in education, science and cultural cooperation.

The United Kingdom became the eighth associate member of the organisation in 2013.-VNA