HANOI, May 6 (Xinhua) -- The 19th Asian Physics Olympiad kicked off here on Sunday, with the participation of 188 students aged below 20 from about 25 countries and regions.

Vietnam always attaches importance to basic sciences, including physics, which play a significant part in accelerating scientific and technological advancement, especially in the fourth Industrial Revolution, Vietnamese Minister of Education and Training Phung Xuan Nha said at the opening ceremony of the 13-day competition.

At the 18th Asian Physics Olympiad in 2017 in Russia, with the participation of 153 contestants from about 22 countries and regions, Vietnam bagged home one gold medal, three silver medals, and three certificates.