Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam visits University of Social Sciences and Humanities

On August 8, 2008, Mr. Gabriel. M. Lessard, Canadian Ambassador to Vietnam visited the University of Social Sciences and Humanities. Welcoming Mr. Gabriel. M. Lessard were Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Duc Nghieu - Vice Rector of the University - and representatives of the leaders and staff of the International Relations Department and the Faculty of International Studies.

At the meeting, Mr. Gabriel. M. Lessard expressed his interest in the research situation on Canada in particular and the North American region in general at the school. According to the Ambassador, the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, VNU is one of the few institutions that train and research on Canada and this meeting is a good opportunity for the two sides to learn about each other. Vietnam and Canada will celebrate the 35th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2008. In fact, the relationship between the two countries existed long before that and Canada was one of the first countries to conduct research on Vietnam. Currently, there are 250,000 Vietnamese people living in Canada, a relatively high number compared to many other countries and this is a great driving force for the need to learn about each other between the two sides in all fields of culture, economics, politics and society.

[img class="caption" src="images/stories/2008/8/08/p8082433.jpg" border="0" alt="Cover page of the Encyclopedia of Canada (Photo: Thanh Ha)" title="Cover page of the Encyclopedia of Canada (Photo: Thanh Ha)" width="179" height="240" align="right" ]

With the desire to help the lecturers and students of the School have a more specific understanding of the country and people of Canada, Mr. Gabriel. M. Lessard presented the School with the Encyclopedia of Canada's peoples.

“The gift is small but the wisdom it brings is enormous. I hope it will help Vietnamese students and lecturers understand more about Canada and its people, perhaps even different from what they thought about Canada before” - the ambassador wittily said when presenting the book to Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Duc Nghieu.

At the meeting, Associate Professor Dr. Vu Duc Nghieu affirmed that research on Canada and the North American region is an important research direction of the School. In the future, the School hopes to have regular and specific cooperation with the Canadian Embassy to have new developments in this research direction. Associate Professor Dr. Vu Duc Nghieu also expressed his gratitude for the gift of the Ambassador on behalf of the School and affirmed: “Although the book is small, it contains a lot of effort and intelligence of scientists. This is a precious gift for us. We have received a precious object and this precious object has also found the right person who needs it and will use it properly and effectively.”

Associate Professor, Dr. Vu Duc Nghieu also invited Mr. Gabriel. M. Lessard to visit and have a talk with many staff and students of the School in the near future.