Vietnam, Stanford forge co-creation partnership

According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Party General Secretary and State President To Lam met with Professor Sarah A. Soule, dean of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, on Monday during his working trip to the United States.

At the meeting, the president praised the reputation and standing of Stanford University and its business school, expressing interest in the university’s priorities, particularly education, leadership development, and artificial intelligence.

State President To Lam said that as AI develops rapidly, core human capabilities such as creative thinking, judgment, and decision-making are becoming increasingly important to the competitiveness and development of countries.

Vietnam is entering a new phase of development, with science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and high-quality human resources identified as key drivers of growth.

The country needs not only additional resources but, more importantly, the capacity to create, absorb, and turn knowledge, technology, and innovation into productivity and competitiveness, State President To Lam said.

He said connecting Vietnam’s strengths as a dynamic economy with strong development ambitions and innovation opportunities with Stanford’s global knowledge, talent, and networks could help build an effective model of cooperation between knowledge and practice, universities and businesses, and technology and people.

Such cooperation could create new value and bring practical benefits to both sides and the wider region, he said.

Against this backdrop, Party General Secretary To Lam proposed that the two sides focus on cooperation in three priority areas.

First, he suggested developing leadership capacity for managers, business leaders, and other relevant groups, linked to modern management practices and international connections.

Second, he called for strengthening innovation capabilities and AI expertise, with Stanford sharing knowledge and experience in AI and the digital economy while connecting Vietnam’s innovation ecosystem with the university's global network of experts, founders, and investors.

Third, he proposed promoting research and innovation programs to make Vietnam a co-creation partner and jointly generate new value.

State President To Lam also said Vietnam will host APEC in 2027 and expressed hope that Stanford would participate as a knowledge partner, contributing to activities in science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, and human resource development. 

Such engagement, he said, could help foster long-term connections and initiatives in the region.

Soule welcomed Vietnam’s dynamic economic growth and its increasingly important role in the global economy.

She agreed with the cooperation priorities outlined by the president and affirmed Stanford’s commitment to building ties based on mutual respect and shared values of educational excellence, with a common goal of developing leaders capable of addressing increasingly complex global challenges.

On behalf of the Stanford Graduate School of Business, Professor Soule invited State President To Lam to visit the school at a suitable time. He accepted the invitation.