China-ASEAN Ministerial Roundtable on Artificial Intelligence 2025

This is the first time ASEAN and China have held an AI Ministerial Meeting within the framework of the 22nd China-ASEAN Expo (CAEXPO) and China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit (CABIS) to exchange and discuss the development of AI.

Overview of the Conference.

Speaking at the Conference, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong emphasized that AI is not just a technology but has become a national infrastructure similar to electricity and telecommunications. "Whoever masters AI will have a superior advantage in production and business. But along with opportunities, AI also poses challenges in ethics, employment and social trust. Therefore, AI development must be fast, safe and humane - AI must be for humans, serve humans, not replace humans," the Deputy Minister affirmed.

According to the Deputy Minister, to develop AI quickly and sustainably, it must be based on four pillars: transparent institutions, modern infrastructure, high-quality human resources and humanistic culture. In Vietnam, the National Strategy on AI Research, Development and Application to 2030 was issued in 2021, aiming to build a strong AI ecosystem, contributing to socio -economic development, improving the quality of public services, ensuring safety, security and ethics in AI development and use.

In recent years, Vietnam has made many important strides in the field of AI. According to the Government's AI Readiness Index Report 2024, Vietnam is among the top 5 countries in ASEAN; ranked 3rd globally in terms of trust and 5th in terms of AI acceptance. Investment capital in AI enterprises increased 8 times in the period 2023-2024 alone. AI is widely present in many fields, such as: Finance, e-commerce, healthcare , manufacturing and automation. Vietnam's AI ecosystem is ready for a breakthrough development, and has become a strategic destination for major technology corporations in the world in this field.

The Deputy Minister added that Vietnam is currently updating its AI Development Strategy and preparing to build and promulgate an AI Law to create a clear, transparent legal framework in line with global trends. With the advantage of a young population of more than 100 million people, developed digital infrastructure and strong commitment from the Government, academia and businesses, Vietnam has identified AI as a driving force for sustainable growth in the coming period.

Deputy Minister Bui Hoang Phuong also expressed his desire to promote international cooperation in human resource training, research and academic exchange in the field of AI. According to the Deputy Minister: "A digital ASEAN is not only based on network connectivity, but also on trust, standards and common values. AI must be a powerful tool to support people, freeing up labor for creativity and higher values. People are the ultimate decision makers."

Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Bui Hoang Phuong spoke at the Conference.

At the Conference, representatives from Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and the Philippines spoke and shared their views on opportunities, challenges, and potential for cooperation and development in the field of AI among countries and between ASEAN and China.

The China-ASEAN AI Ministerial Roundtable 2025 is expected to open a new phase of cooperation, contributing to building a safe, sustainable and humane AI ecosystem, serving socio-economic development, improving people's lives and promoting common prosperity in the region.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/hoi-nghi-ban-tron-cap-bo-truong-ve-tri-tue-nhan-tao-trung-quoc-asean-2025-197250918152510693.htm