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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh speaks at the Vietnam-WEF National Strategy Dialogue within the framework of WEF Davos 2024, January 2024. (Source: VNA) |
On the occasion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation attending the 55th Annual Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos, Switzerland and working bilaterally in Switzerland,The World and Vietnam Newspaper interviewed Ambassador, Head of the Permanent Delegation of Vietnam in Geneva (Switzerland) Mai Phan Dung about Vietnam's message through this important forum shaping the future of the world economy.
Could you please tell us the significance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's participation in WEF Davos 2025 and actively maintaining Vietnam's role at this forum over the years?
2025 is the 55th annual meeting of the WEF held in Davos, Switzerland (the first in 1971). WEF Davos has become a “global brand”, the largest economic forum, with the broadest and most diverse participation of leading actors of the world economy, including heads of state, political and economic leaders, policy makers, business leaders, international organizations and leading scholars in the world.
Although it is an economic forum, the WEF's goal is more comprehensive, which is the development of society based on a long-term vision. Therefore, the discussion content at the WEF will cover most of the urgent issues facing humanity, from epidemics, economic growth, energy transition to human resource development. Climate change has been a consistent theme at the WEF for many years.
The WEF’s meetings and discussions help to strengthen and establish economic cooperation and create policy breakthroughs. The event’s continuity is a testament to its important role in shaping the future of the world economy, promoting multilateral cooperation and providing solutions to global problems.
For countries, the WEF is an opportunity to strengthen their position on the international stage by introducing their development potential, investment environment, and economic policies, affirming their role in solving global challenges such as climate change, technology, or sustainable development. The conference also creates opportunities for countries to attract investment by meeting with the world's leading business leaders and investors, promoting economic cooperation through public-private partnerships, especially in areas such as infrastructure, renewable energy, high technology and digital transformation.
Countries can also learn from successful development models, share their views and policies on global issues such as green economy, energy security, and contribute to shaping international trends and policies. In addition, the Conference also helps countries build long-term development strategies based on discussions and forecasts shared in Davos, promote bilateral and multilateral relations with countries or international organizations, contributing to sustainable development and international cooperation.
For many years, WEF has invited our Prime Minister to attend the WEF Annual Conference. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's attendance at the WEF Davos 2025 Conference is part of Vietnam's overall foreign policy and international integration, with a consistent policy of actively and proactively integrating into the international economy, becoming a responsible member, contributing to peace, stability and common prosperity of the world. This is the second consecutive year that the Prime Minister has attended WEF Davos, demonstrating that Vietnam highly appreciates and considers WEF as a global partner.
The participation of Vietnam's senior leaders in WEF Davos aims to realize many important strategic goals.
Firstly, the Conference is an opportunity for Vietnam to establish and strengthen important partnerships…. promoting cooperation between the government and the private sector, especially in the areas of technology, green energy and sustainable development.
Second, the WEF is an important forum for Vietnam to introduce investment attraction policies, business opportunities and development potential in key areas, while promoting Vietnam's image as an attractive destination for international tourism and trade.
Third , participating in the WEF gives Vietnam the opportunity to learn international experience in economics and sustainable development to apply to domestic development policies, better preparing to deal with challenges such as climate change, energy transition, food security and global economic instability.
Fourth , the Conference is an opportunity for Vietnam to participate in global initiatives on sustainable development, energy transition and digital economy, and demonstrate its commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050. Vietnam can share its vision for development, contribute its views and experiences in areas such as sustainable agricultural development, poverty reduction, health, education and human development.
Fifth , Vietnam's participation at the Conference helps to enhance the country's position and prestige, demonstrating our strong commitment to contributing to global initiatives and solutions, affirming our role as a reliable, active and responsible partner in the international community.
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| Ambassador, Head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam in Geneva (Switzerland) Mai Phan Dung. (Source: Vietnamese Mission in Geneva) |
What are the highlights of the WEF Davos 2025 agenda? What content is Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expected to participate in and contribute to that agenda, Ambassador?
The 2025 WEF Davos will take place from January 20-24 under the theme of “Collaboration for the Intelligent Age.” This theme emphasizes the importance of cooperation in the context of advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI), quantum computing and biotechnology that are developing rapidly, creating profound changes in society.
The conference will focus on five priorities and solutions according to separate but closely related topics, including: reshaping growth, industries in the age of artificial intelligence, investing in people, protecting the Earth, and rebuilding trust.
With the main theme and solutions discussed this year, the WEF Davos 2025 program not only focuses on solving immediate problems but also shaping long-term strategies, promoting global cooperation and building a sustainable, smart and inclusive future.
With in-depth discussions and workshops, Davos 2025 will consider measures to reduce trade tensions, economic instability and geopolitical conflicts, in order to create a stable environment for global development. In addition, participants will discuss the impact of technology on the labor market, how new technologies can be used to improve the quality of life, while avoiding potential risks due to fragmentation and polarization in society. The conference will also focus on green solutions to deal with climate change, promoting renewable energy and sustainable development, ensuring the future for future generations.
At the WEF Davos 2025, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will attend and speak, sharing Vietnam's vision at a number of key discussion sessions, including: the Vietnam - WEF National Strategy Dialogue with the theme "Unleashing Vietnam's Growth Potential: Promoting Investment and Innovation for a Strong Future" with leading WEF corporations, discussing the driving forces behind the country's economic transformation and ways to promote closer cooperation with the global business community; a discussion session with a number of ASEAN Leaders with the theme "Solidarity for Self-Resilience", outlining the vision and aspirations for a peaceful and prosperous region that is preparing to lead the way in opening a new era of productivity and growth; and especially the multilateral discussion on the future of trade and development, in collaboration with the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) with the theme “Towards the 16th UNCTAD Ministerial Conference in 2025 in Viet Nam – The Future of Trade and Development in the Smart Age”. This discussion is a high-level, exclusive exchange between the Prime Minister and a number of leaders from international organizations and development banks. This will be an event that paves the way for the upcoming 16th UNCTAD Ministerial Conference to be held in Viet Nam with the theme “UNCTAD 16: Shaping the Future, Accelerating Economic Transformation towards Equitable, Inclusive and Sustainable Development”.
In addition, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will attend and speak at the Vietnam High-Tech Investment Seminar, the Vietnam Pharmaceutical Seminar in the Digital Age, and the Digital Infrastructure and Renewable Energy Seminar. These are all topics that have received much attention from the international business community and are also topics discussed at Davos 2025.
In addition, the Prime Minister will have bilateral meetings with leaders of several countries and international organizations to share global and regional issues of mutual concern, as well as strengthen connectivity activities, expand partnerships, and learn from experiences. Also during his attendance at the WEF Davos 2025, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will meet with WEF Chairman, Professor Klaus Schwab, and attend the ceremony to award an honorary doctorate to Professor Schwab from the Vietnam National University.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended as the main guest at the Policy Dialogue session “Vietnam: Global Vision Orientation” within the framework of WEF Davos 2024, January 2024. (Source: VNA) |
As the Ambassador just shared that the theme of WEF Davos 2025 is “Cooperation for the Smart Age”, what is the significance of this theme to Vietnam and other countries in the world in the current context?
The theme of WEF 2025 is based on the recognition that the world is fragmented economically, divided geopolitically, and divided in value systems. Meanwhile, scientific and technological inventions such as AI, quantum, energy technology, biology, medicine, etc. are creating unprecedented opportunities for economic growth and improving the living environment. Therefore, the goal of WEF 2025 will be to exchange and find solutions to heal fragmentation, division, and make the most of the opportunities brought by the new technological revolution.
Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the WEF, believes that the smart era is not simply about technological developments but also a “social revolution”. Therefore, the smart era will likely be a period requiring rapid adaptation and comprehensive cooperation at the highest level globally, in which it is difficult for any country to stand alone and separate.
The theme set by WEF is not simply a topic of discussion but can also be seen as a call to action for countries to strengthen international cooperation, seize the opportunity of the "smart era" to jointly create a sustainable, prosperous and good future for all.
The above topic also has practical significance for the national development strategy set forth by the 13th National Party Congress and is consistent with the determination of the entire Party, Government and people of Vietnam as our country enters a new era, an era of rising up. In that era, epochal changes, such as the digital revolution and artificial intelligence, will bring many new opportunities for Vietnam to grasp, anticipate, rise up, and develop breakthroughs to become a developed, high-income country by 2045.
Therefore, by participating in WEF 2025 with the above theme, Vietnam will have many practical opportunities to exchange experiences, share concerns, priorities, and development goals with partners; at the same time, find new partners and propose specific cooperation directions; promptly grasp new opportunities, resources, and development motivations to serve national development, and realize national development goals.
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| Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Professor Klaus Schwab, Chairman of the WEF, interacted with Vietnamese students on October 7, 2024 in Hanoi. (Source: VGP) |
Tet At Ty 2025 is approaching, Ambassador, please share your feelings when celebrating Tet far from home and send some Tet wishes to readers of The Gioi va Viet Nam Newspaper?
Perhaps like all Vietnamese people, for me, Tet is always a very sacred and meaningful time of the year, a time to return, reunite, and gather with family.
During this time celebrating Tet away from home, the emotions and attachment to family and homeland are very clear and strong. These emotions are intertwined with joy at the new spirit and strong rise of the country in all aspects, intertwined with faith in the new era of the country.
In Geneva, international friends admire and appreciate the achievements that Vietnam has made in all fields in recent years, and value Vietnam's role and contributions in the international arena and at international forums in Geneva. Therefore, although I am far from home during Tet, I still feel like I am part of the country's development flow, and feel more encouraged and motivated to work harder and contribute better.
That joy will be doubled, becoming a great honor when we prepare to welcome Government Leaders and many domestic colleagues to attend the WEF Davos 2025 Conference. This is a great source of encouragement for me and the officers and staff of the Delegation when, despite having to work far from home, we have the honor to welcome special, important and familiar guests at the end of the year.
On this occasion, I would also like to express my gratitude and appreciation to The Gioi Va Viet Nam Newspaper for its efforts over the past time to maintain its position as the country's leading foreign affairs newspaper, a reliable address for readers in the fields of politics and diplomacy. The newspaper is also an important bridge, helping to bring our Delegation in Geneva as well as those working in the diplomatic sector closer to readers nationwide.
On behalf of all the staff working at the Vietnamese Delegation in Geneva, I would like to send to The World and Vietnam Newspaper and its readers my best wishes for a happy and prosperous New Year, with lots of luck, success and joy!
Thank you Ambassador!
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