"Science and technology not only support ASEAN's development but also help shape its future"

<p style="text-align: justify;">This was the message delivered by Minister of Science and Technology Vu Hai Quan at the Plenary Session of the 90th ASEAN Committee on Science, Technology and Innovation Meeting (COSTI-90), which opened on the afternoon of October 14, 2026, in Da Nang.</p>

According to the Minister, regional cooperation must shift from knowledge sharing to co-creating solutions, and from standalone projects to stronger regional partnerships.

Delivering the welcome address, Minister Vu Hai Quan noted that COSTI-90 holds special significance as it marks the first meeting of the five sub-committees following their streamlining from nine sub-committees. He also acknowledged the shared commitment of member states to organizational restructuring.

Emphasizing the direction for cooperation in the new era, Minister Vu Hai Quan stressed that regional collaboration needs to transition from knowledge sharing to co-building solutions, and from isolated projects to robust regional partnerships. Accordingly, ASEAN member states should better leverage one another's research capabilities, infrastructure, and data to collectively address challenges that no single nation can solve alone.

The Minister expressed confidence that COSTI-90 would yield not only high-quality discussions but also establish clear priorities, concrete actions, and measurable outcomes. Viet Nam attaches special importance to ASEAN cooperation in science, technology, and innovation; these fields not only support development but also play a role in shaping the future of ASEAN, the Minister affirmed.