Collaboration between Vietnam and Romania in artificial intelligence (AI), information technology (IT), and cybersecurity is boundless and should be beefed up to further promote relations between the two countries, Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh said on Sunday.

PM Chinh conveyed this message during his working visit to Romania’s National Institute for Research and Development in Informatics (ICI Bucharest), as part of his three-day business trip to the European country at the invitation of his Romanian counterpart Ion-Marcel Ciolacu.

Chinh, accompanied by his spouse Le Thi Bich Tran and their entourage, arrived in Bucharest on Saturday.

In a meeting at ICI Bucharest, Chinh, a former student and diplomat in Romania, told ICI Bucharest general director Adrian-Victor Vevera that Vietnam and Romania should strengthen comprehensive cooperation in AI, IT, and cybersecurity.

He expressed his belief that the collaboration between the two countries in IT and digital technology would open up new opportunities and contribute to strengthening bilateral relations.

He emphasized that such cooperation would serve as a catalyst for promoting growth and generating new momentum for both Vietnam and Romania.

The Vietnamese government leader encouraged experts from both countries to join hands in initiating and developing projects in these areas for mutual benefit.

He suggested ICI Bucharest to make Vietnam a priority partner in its expansion of international cooperation, helping the Southeast Asian nation train high-quality human resources in these spheres.

PM Chinh remarked that the primary obstacle to their bilateral ties is geographical distance.

However, he expressed optimism that cooperation in science and IT would assist in overcoming this limitation.

“Time is limited, but collaborative relations between the two countries, especially in science and technology, AI, blockchains, and others, are unlimited,” the premier underscored.

ICI Bucharest leader Vevera briefed PM Chinh on the institute, a strategic research agency with a history of more than 50 years of developing the IT workforce for Romania.

The institute is tasked with establishing the Internet infrastructure and data centers in Romania, as well as developing cloud computing projects for state agencies, stated the general director.

It is also involved in the creation of supercomputers, the establishment of a cyber diplomacy center, the development of a mobile data recovery facility, pioneering in blockchain technology, and making virtual trading platforms accessible, Vevera added.

He told PM Chinh that ICI Bucharest is willing to promote cooperation with Vietnamese agencies in these aspects.

Vevera guided Chinh, along with his spouse and entourage, on a tour of the institute, providing insights into its operations.

At the meeting, ICI Bucharest and the Vietnam National Institute of Software and Digital Content Industry exchanged a memorandum of understanding on cooperation.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security also took the occasion to make a direct connection with the institute for cybersecurity cooperation. 

Since establishing diplomatic relations in 1950, Vietnam and Romania have seen their relationship develop steadily in multifaceted fields.

Trade between both sides has experienced a robust increase, surging from US$261.4 million in 2019 to $431 million in 2023, marking a 1.65-fold rise.

This growth reflects an average annual increase of 15 percent, according to the Vietnamese Ministry of Industry and Trade.

The two nations are anticipating the celebration of 75 years of diplomatic ties next year.

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