DAV welcomes Permanent Secretary of Malta and signs MoU with Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies

11:24 26/12/2024

On December 12, 2024, the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam (DAV) had the honor of welcoming H.E. Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Tourism of Malta, during his official visit to Viet Nam. The reception was chaired by Dr. Nguyen Thi Thin, Vice President of the Academy. On this occasion, the DAV and the Mediterranean Academy of Diplomatic Studies (MEDAC), under the University of Malta, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), marking a significant milestone in the development of educational cooperation between the two institutions.

H.E. Christopher Cutajar, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade, and Tourism of Malta, and Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam, Nguyễn Thị Thìn, at the signing ceremony. 

The working session and signing ceremony were attended by His Excellency John Busuttil, Ambassador of Malta to China concurrently accredited to Viet Nam, along with the Honorary Consul of the Republic of Malta in Ho Chi Minh City and officials from the Ministry for Foreign and European Affairs and Trade of Malta and the Malta Tourism Authority. On the Viet Nam side, the event was graced by the presence of Mr. Nguyen Manh Thang, Deputy Director General of the European Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, alongside representatives from various units of the DAV, including the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies, the East Sea Institute, the Department of Education and Training, Foreign Service Training Center (FOSET), the Faculty of International Politics and Diplomacy, the Faculty of International Economics, the Faculty of International Law, and the External Relations Division.

The Malta delegation at the MoU signing ceremony with the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam.

In her welcome remarks to Mr. Christopher Cutajar and the Maltese delegation, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thin provided an overview of the functions, responsibilities, organizational structure, and remarkable achievements of the DAV over the past 65 years. She emphasized the importance of international cooperation in the field of education and diplomatic training. She also reaffirmed DAV’s commitment to building sustainable partnerships with Maltese agencies and organizations, particularly with MEDAC, to contribute to fostering bilateral relations between the two countries.

Mr. Nguyễn Mạnh Thắng, Deputy Director-General of the European Affairs Department, Ministry of Foreign Affairs (the fourth person from the left), Deputy Director Nguyễn Thị Thìn, along with representatives from various units of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam.

Expressing his gratitude for the warm and respectful reception by the DAV, Mr. Christopher Cutajar congratulated the Academy on its 65th anniversary. He also expressed his delight that 2024 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Malta (1974-2024). Appreciating the proposals to strengthen cooperation between the DAV and MEDAC, Mr. Christopher Cutajar was pleased to announce that Malta is ready to offer 1-2 scholarships for DAV students to pursue postgraduate studies in Malta for the 2025-2026 academic year, with the possibility of continuation in subsequent years.

The two sides also discussed initiatives to implement the contents of the MoU between the DAV and MEDAC, including inviting Mr. Christopher Cutajar to deliver lectures to DAV students, organizing seminars, and facilitating academic exchanges between researchers and lecturers of the two institutions. Both sides agreed to assign their respective focal points to carry out these initiatives.

H.E. John Busuttil, H.E. Christopher Cutajar, and Vice President of the Diplomatic Academy of Viet Nam, Nguyễn Thị Thìn.

At the conclusion of the working session, Dr. Nguyen Thi Thin, representing the DAV, and Mr. Christopher Cutajar, representing MEDAC, signed an MoU on cooperation between the two academies. This marks the first milestone in educational collaboration between Viet Nam and Malta, reflecting the mutual desire to enhance bilateral relations not only in the field of education but also to expand into other areas in the future.

Both parties took commemorative photos at the ASEAN Square.

The MEDAC, affiliated with the University of Malta, is a prestigious educational institution specializing in training diplomats and international professionals in diplomacy, international relations, and foreign policy. The MoU between DAV and MEDAC establishes a comprehensive framework for cooperation in areas such as training, research, information and expert exchange, seminar organization, and sharing educational management experiences./.

External Relations Division

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