Ministerial Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence Governance

Photo caption — Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung delivers a speech. Photo: Cong Luat/TTXVN

The conference brought together approximately 300 delegates representing government agencies, international organizations, and leading businesses to exchange views, strengthen cooperation, and promote partnerships between Vietnamese businesses and global partners. The conference's theme focused on AI institutions, emphasizing strategies, policies, and legal frameworks to ensure the safe, transparent, and responsible development and governance of AI.

In his opening remarks, Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized that sustainable AI development needs to be based on four pillars: strong AI institutions, modern AI infrastructure, AI talent, and an AI culture. The conference is not only a policy dialogue but also a forum for stakeholders to share experiences, initiatives, and policies on AI governance, shaping regional and global AI institutions. Vietnam is committed to developing AI in a human-centered, open, secure, sovereign , cooperative, inclusive, and sustainable manner; promoting international cooperation to share knowledge and values, fostering long-term growth; and promoting open-source AI development to enhance transparency, collaboration, and innovation.

Ms. Inarukundo Francine, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Budget, Finance and Digital Economy of the Republic of Burundi, stated that Burundi is undertaking a comprehensive digital transformation, considering telecommunications and information and communication technology (ICT) infrastructure as the backbone of economic and administrative development.

Despite facing numerous challenges regarding access to electricity, affordable equipment, and rural coverage, Burundi remains committed to promoting digital transformation. The PAFEN project and the Universal Service Fund are contributing to expanding connectivity and reducing inequality in access to technology in the most disadvantaged areas. The “African Girls Can Code” program, implemented by Burundi in collaboration with UN Women, plays a crucial role in promoting digital skills and gender equality. By training girls in programming, new technologies, and creative thinking, the program helps bridge the digital divide and build a generation of talented women in the digital technology sector.

Chairman of the Ninh Binh Provincial People's Committee, Pham Quang Ngoc, informed that the province has been focusing all resources and implementing decisively and synchronously the Politburo's Resolution on breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation, and digital transformation. The province has achieved important foundational results; built a solid digital infrastructure, with 100% of communes and wards covered by fiber optic cables, and 5G networks being rapidly deployed; the digital government operates smoothly, efficiently, transparently, and effectively, promptly meeting the needs of citizens and businesses.

Ninh Binh is ready to access and apply advanced technologies, including AI, to solve specific local problems, from smart heritage management and preservation, digital tourism development, transportation and logistics optimization, to building a green agriculture and effective public administration.

The province aims to become a centrally-governed city by 2030, boasting modern industry, high-quality tourism services, and a green urban environment linked to heritage, ranking among the leading localities nationwide in terms of growth rate and per capita income. The province has identified key tasks and solutions for the coming period as focusing on breakthroughs in science and technology and high-quality human resources; developing a comprehensive innovation ecosystem that fully integrates all stakeholders, operates effectively, and has high linkages; and promoting innovative startups and technology transfer.

The Vietnam International Digital Week 2025 (VIDW 2025), held in Ninh Binh and Hanoi from October 27-29, was organized by the Ministry of Science and Technology in coordination with local authorities and relevant units. It emphasized strategies, policies, and legal frameworks to ensure the safe, transparent, and responsible development and governance of AI. This annual event brought together domestic and international delegates, including ministerial-level leaders and heads of delegations from ASEAN countries, strategic partners such as the United States, South Korea, and Australia; leaders from the United Nations (UN), the World Bank (WB), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the European Union (EU), the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), the Asia-Pacific Telecommunication Community (APT), and leading technology corporations from Vietnam and internationally.

The Vietnam International Digital Week 2025 also features outdoor technology demonstrations, showcasing innovative products and solutions in the fields of digital transformation and AI from Vietnamese technology companies. This is an opportunity for delegates and businesses attending the event to experience new technologies, opening up opportunities for cooperation and investment for Vietnamese and international technology companies.

In addition, conferences, seminars, and forums will focus on six key themes: 5G, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, digital human resources, and digital technology enterprises. Notable seminars and forums include: the Vietnam-European Union Digital Cooperation Forum, the Vietnam-Digital Partnership Forum, the Workshop on Sustainable Telecommunications Infrastructure Development, the ASEAN Conference on 5G, and the Regional Workshop on AI-Based Digital Transformation..., as well as business networking activities to create opportunities for participating entities to seek cooperation and investment opportunities.

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