Working together to reach further

NDO - On the afternoon of January 22nd (local time), within the framework of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Davos 2025 (Switzerland), Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and spoke at the discussion session “ASEAN: Connecting to Reach Further” chaired by WEF President Borge Brende. Joining Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh in the discussion were Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Chief Advisor (Acting Prime Minister) of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus, UN Secretary-General's Special Envoy for Myanmar Julie Bishop, and Mastercard Group President Merit Janow.

During the discussion session, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim shared three major priorities for Vietnam's ASEAN Chairmanship in 2025: ensuring energy infrastructure for the region, especially green and renewable energy; promoting connectivity within ASEAN, with a particular focus on leveraging the strengths of artificial intelligence; and addressing climate change.

The speakers all highly appreciated the role, position, and development prospects of ASEAN. ASEAN has not only affirmed itself as a region with vibrant economic potential and one of the leading engines of global growth, but is also poised to pioneer its transformation into the smart era.

ASEAN's unique advantage lies in the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of its younger generation, a "digital generation" expected to be a new growth engine for the region, preventing ASEAN from being complacent with its current successes.

Sharing his views as the fastest-growing economy in ASEAN, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh acknowledged that the "smart era" presents many enormous challenges but is an inevitable path. The Prime Minister emphasized that ASEAN needs to enter the smart era with an ambitious mindset, ready to "think deeply and act big," using science and technology, innovation, and digital transformation as new drivers to create breakthroughs for regional growth.

The scene at the discussion session (Photo: DUONG GIANG/VNA)

Sharing his vision for ASEAN's future, the Prime Minister emphasized that in the smart era, a successful ASEAN needs to firmly ensure six elements: political and security must be peaceful, stable, and free from war; economic development must be rapid and sustainable; culturally, it must promote unity in diversity, developing ASEAN identity while preserving the identity of each member; environmentally, it must ensure sustainable exploitation and use, protecting the environment for future generations; and socially, it must ensure social progress and equity, inclusive development, and leaving no one behind.

To thrive in the smart era, the Prime Minister emphasized that Vietnam cannot develop at the usual average pace.

The Prime Minister highlighted Vietnam's determination to develop science, technology, innovation, and digitalization through three strategic priorities: institutions, infrastructure, and human resources. Regarding institutions, Vietnam recently issued Resolution 57 on breakthroughs in the development of national science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, along with several laws and regulations to provide a legal and institutional framework to promote the national science, technology, and innovation ecosystem. Regarding infrastructure, Vietnam will develop information technology infrastructure, especially digital databases, as a core of growth.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh participates in the discussion session (Photo: DUONG GIANG/VNA)

In terms of human resources, Vietnam will prepare a high-quality workforce, focusing on emerging industries such as green transformation and digitalization, the knowledge economy, and concentrating on areas where Vietnam has strengths, especially in mathematics and logical thinking.

The Prime Minister called for cooperation and connectivity between ASEAN and the global community, and between Vietnam and other ASEAN countries, to develop together and move forward together, harnessing global intelligence to serve common development goals.

Regarding the issue of Myanmar, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed his firm belief that with solidarity and unity towards a common goal, ASEAN will contribute to bringing peace, stability, and happiness back to the people of Myanmar soon.

Overview of the discussion session (Photo: DUONG GIANG/VNA).

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's frank sharing and insightful observations on ASEAN's vision and strategy for the future received a positive response and agreement from the speakers as well as the numerous delegates.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/asean-gan-ket-de-vuon-xa-post857410.html