ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting: Building Intelligent Connectivity, Strengthening Digital Trust

Digital transformation, data, and artificial intelligence are propelling ASEAN into a new phase of development, where connectivity extends beyond infrastructure to encompass intellectual connections, shared values, and regional solidarity.

In the context of a rapidly developing digital era, ASEAN is shaping a strategic shift from prioritizing infrastructure connectivity to intellectual connectivity, trust, and sustainable cooperation. Digital transformation, data, and artificial intelligence are identified as new drivers of growth, playing a key role in socio-economic development and enhancing the region's resilience.

Speaking at the ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting 2026, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh emphasized that the explosion of artificial intelligence, big data, the Internet of Things, and blockchain is fundamentally changing the way we produce, do business, and govern society. In this context, digital transformation is no longer just a trend but has become a strategic choice and a top priority for many countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh delivered a speech at the Opening Ceremony of the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers Meeting (ADGMIN).

According to the Prime Minister, the digital economy, digital politics, and digital society are increasingly asserting their role as new growth drivers and pillars for sustainable development. Digital data has become a strategic resource; the ability to master, connect, and exploit data determines the effectiveness of national governance, competitiveness, and the expansion of cooperation within ASEAN as well as with partners.

Artificial intelligence plays a central role in the digital age, requiring ASEAN to promote mechanisms for testing new technologies while linking AI development with ethical standards and a human-centered approach. Simultaneously, cybersecurity and digital sovereignty have become crucial tasks, as cyberspace presents a new battleground with numerous non-traditional challenges. Digital connectivity, therefore, is not just about connecting infrastructure, but also about connecting intellect, trust, and solidarity among nations.

After nearly six decades of formation and development, ASEAN has become one of the most dynamic regions in the world, with an economy exceeding US$3.7 trillion and nearly 700 million people, the majority of whom are young and tech-savvy. The region has achieved many positive results in digital transformation, forming cooperation frameworks on the digital economy, data, and artificial intelligence security; the ASEAN digital economy is growing rapidly, and the rates of internet usage, digital payments, and e-commerce are increasing.

Vietnam has always identified ASEAN as a strategic priority in its foreign policy. National digital transformation is being strongly promoted with rapidly developing digital infrastructure, a digital government moving towards a paperless administration, the digital economy becoming a new growth engine, and a digital society developing in the spirit of putting people at the center.

Alongside its achievements, Vietnam and ASEAN also face many challenges such as the risk of technological backwardness, digital strategic competition, the digital divide, limitations in institutions, infrastructure and human resources, and increasingly complex cybersecurity risks.

Towards the ASEAN Community Vision 2045, the Prime Minister emphasized the need to build digital trust, develop modern infrastructure, ensure cybersecurity, and train high-quality digital human resources, in the spirit of solidarity, cooperation, and dialogue.

The Prime Minister stated that the digital economy, digital politics, and digital society are increasingly asserting their role as new drivers of growth and pillars for sustainable development.

8 key directions for ASEAN's digital transformation.

According to Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung, ASEAN has done very well in the area of ​​"connectivity" over the past decade. However, in the context of socio-economic activities shifting strongly towards the digital environment, the challenge is no longer whether there is connectivity or not, but whether each connection creates new knowledge, value, and adaptive capacity.

Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung stated that the shift from "infrastructure connectivity to intellectual connectivity" highlights a momentous change in ASEAN's digital development thinking.

The theme "ASEAN Adapting: From Infrastructure Connectivity to Intelligence Connectivity" reflects a momentous shift in the region's digital development thinking. To realize this shift, ASEAN needs to focus on eight key areas:

Digital infrastructure : Shifting from telecommunications infrastructure to smart digital infrastructure, integrating data, AI, cloud computing, IoT, 5G/6G, and digital platforms.

Digital Government : Shifting from e-government to smart digital government, making decisions based on data and AI.

Safe and reliable : Building a trustworthy digital ecosystem and strengthening regional cooperation on cybersecurity and data protection.

Digital Inclusion : Enhancing digital skills, building a digital society that empowers citizens.

Human resources : Developing high-quality digital human resources, especially in the fields of AI, cybersecurity, and data science.

Innovation : Building an innovation ecosystem with a sandbox mechanism and policy testing.

Digital economy : Towards a seamless digital market, promoting smart industrial transformation and digital commerce.

Green digital transformation : Developing green data centers, a circular ICT economy, and integrating ESG criteria into digital policies.

Vietnam affirms its readiness to work alongside ASEAN in implementing these directions through concrete cooperation, sharing experiences, and jointly developing common initiatives, contributing to building a smart, resilient, inclusive, and sustainable digital ASEAN community.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/hoi-nghi-bo-truong-so-asean-kien-tao-ket-noi-tri-tue-cung-co-niem-tin-so-197260210152913722.htm