Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung yesterday met Professor Ngo Bao Chau, the first Vietnamese to win the Fields Medal, the highest professional honour a mathematician can attain, and the Education Dialogue Group.

Dung praised the contribution of scientists to national development, including Chau's contribution to the Viet Nam Institute for Advanced Study in Mathematics. He said this had helped to promote a love for maths among Vietnamese students.

He said the Government was strongly implementing a master plan on Education and Training Reform and urged Chau and the Education Dialogue Group to continue to provide consultancy and opinions to help complete education development policies.

Dung said the Government would continue to provide favourable conditions for further development of the Viet Nam Institute for Advanced Study of Mathematics.

Chau said the institute had developed well in the three years it had been established, particularly in helping improve scientific research by Vietnamese mathematicians.

On the same day, Dung had a working session with the Viet Nam Union of Science and Technology Associations. He praised the practical contributions of the union to national development and asked ministries, localities and the union to increase co-operation in scientific research and criticism.

Dung said it was important to boost international co-operation, encourage private investment in science and technology, and increase communication in this field.

He said it was essential to enhance the role of scholars in modernising industrialisation and increasing the competitiveness of all sectors.