Vietnam always attaches importance to intensifying its participation and contribution to international organisations and forums, including the Southeast Asian Ministers of Education Organisation (SEAMEO), said President Truong Tan Sang at his opening speech to the 47th conference of SEAMEO Council that opened in Hanoi on March 20. As Chair of the SEAMEO Council this year, Vietnam will do its utmost together with other member countries to fulfil the signed cooperation programmes of the organisation for development and prosperity of each member country, and for peace, stability, cooperation and development.

Concrete accomplishments made during the conference included signing legal documents on the establishment of the SEAMEO regional centre for lifelong learning (SEAMEO CELL), admitting the United Kingdom as an associate member country of SEAMEO and starting a SEAMEO forum (SEAMEO College).

The centre for lifelong learning will help the Vietnamese government implement its Education Development Strategy 2011-2020, which stipulates that by 2020, the country will ensure lifelong learning opportunities for all and build a learning society.

Over the past years, the State and Government of Vietnam has considered education-training to be a top priority, Sang said, noting the country’s heavy investment in human resources and putting forth mechanisms and policies for the sector. Those efforts paid off with the quality of education improving significantly, and social and gender equality in education recording encouraging achievements, the leader said.

This 47th SEAMEO conference gathered 200 delegates from 18 countries, including education ministers, high-level government education officials and representatives from international organisations, from 11 SEAMEO member states, associate members, affiliate organisations, regional centres and development partners.

SEAMEO is supported by associate member countries, including Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, New Zealand and Spain; The United Kingdom of Great Britain will becomes the eighth associate member at SEAMEC 47.

Affiliate members include the International Council for Open and Distance Education, Tsukuba University, Japan and the British Council. Reports Viet Nam News