Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh visits Estonia: Historic visit, shaking hands with 'giant on the digital stage'

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife are about to pay an official visit to Estonia. (Photo: Nguyen Hong)

Ambassador, could you please tell us the significance and key contents of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's upcoming visit to Estonia?

At the invitation of Prime Minister of the Republic of Estonia Kristen Michal, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his wife, along with a high-ranking delegation of Vietnam, will pay an official visit to the Republic of Estonia from June 5-7.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Finland and Estonia Pham Thi Thanh Binh. (Photo: BC)

This is the first high-level visit by the head of the Vietnamese Government to Estonia since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1992. Therefore, the visit has great historical and strategic significance, demonstrating Vietnam's respect for Estonia in its overall foreign policy of multilateralization and diversification, while affirming its desire to deepen the friendship, trust and substantive cooperation with a technologically advanced country in the heart of Europe.

The visit took place in the context of positive and stable development of bilateral relations with much room for expansion, especially in areas such as digital transformation, education - training and innovation.

During the visit, our Government leader will hold talks with the Estonian Prime Minister, meet with the National Assembly Chairman, and attend and speak at the Vietnam-Estonia Business Forum.

In addition to high-level talks and meetings, the visit is expected to include investment promotion activities, business connections and visits to some typical industrial establishments in Estonia.

The main content of the visit focuses on deepening political and diplomatic relations; at the same time, creating breakthroughs in economic cooperation, digital transformation, e-government, digital society, and smart governance. These are areas where the two sides have a lot of room for cooperation, in line with Vietnam's development orientation and national digital transformation strategy.

Estonian Foreign Minister Martin Roger and Deputy Foreign Minister Le Thi Thu Hang on the occasion of their working visit to Estonia from May 27-28. (Photo: Bao Chi)

Estonia has long been considered a pioneer in e-government, digital society and smart governance. Could you please assess the experiences that can be applied to Vietnam and the opportunities for cooperation between the two countries in this field in the new era of Vietnam's development?

Estonia is known as a pioneer in building e-government, digital society and smart governance. Estonia's experiences, such as providing comprehensive online public services with 100% digitalized public services, building an electronic citizen identification system, protecting personal data and organizing online elections, can provide practical reference values for Vietnam.

In particular, Vietnam is in the process of promoting comprehensive digital transformation and building a digital government. Cooperation in this area not only contributes to modernizing the state administration system but also promotes the development of the digital economy, improving productivity and management efficiency.

Notably, Estonia has developed a digital resident and digital business system, making it easier for foreign citizens to register and do business in Estonia without having to be physically present. This model has attracted the attention of entrepreneurs around the world, including Vietnam. To date, 201 Vietnamese have registered for digital residency and 45 businesses have been digitally registered.

Estonia’s digital transformation journey is an invaluable source of inspiration and lessons. With a strategic vision, thorough investment in technology and people, a progressive legal framework, and especially the building of an “architecture of trust” with its citizens, Estonia has proven that a small country can still become a giant in the digital arena.

For Vietnam, a country that is placing a lot of expectations and resources on digital transformation, studying Estonia's experience in depth and seeking out substantive cooperation opportunities will bring great benefits.

By learning selectively and adapting to specific conditions and contexts, Vietnam can shorten the path, avoid unnecessary mistakes and accelerate the process of building a prosperous, transparent and people-centered digital nation.

Cooperation with Estonia is not only an opportunity to access advanced knowledge and technology, but also an opportunity for the two countries to contribute to the development of the global digital community.

Deputy Minister Le Thi Thu Hang and Ambassador Pham Thi Thanh Binh worked with Director General in charge of Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa Kristi Karelsohn. (Photo: Bao Chi)

Late last year, a delegation of leading Estonian technology companies came to Vietnam to explore the market. Could you please give your opinion on the “taste” of Estonian businesses and the potential for investment cooperation from both sides?

The visit to Vietnam in November 2024 by a delegation of leading Estonian businesses and technology associations and the Estonian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, led by Estonian Ambassador to Vietnam Hannes Hanso, showed Estonia's interest not only in terms of policy but also its readiness to implement substantive cooperation with Vietnam - a dynamic market with great potential in the field of digital transformation and information technology.

The visit was organized by Enterprise Estonia and the Embassy of Estonia in Vietnam, with the aim of enhancing Estonia's global competitiveness and promoting business development through cooperation with Vietnamese partners.

Estonian businesses are targeting Vietnam not for the production of traditional goods, but rather for technology transfer, software cooperation, providing digital solutions and high-value services. Vietnam, with a population of 100 million, a vibrant Internet market, and a thriving startup scene, fits these criteria perfectly.

Estonian businesses’ tastes are very compatible with Vietnam’s orientation towards technology and digital economy development. At the same time, Estonia is a potential destination for Vietnamese businesses to access the Baltic and European Union markets, especially when both sides are members of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA) and Estonia has ratified the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA).

It is important that we go fast, go right and go together, building trust, sharing values and creating solutions together, for a smart, inclusive and sustainable digital future.

I believe that if promoted in the right direction, investment and technology cooperation between the two countries will have a breakthrough development in the coming time.

Estonian business delegation visits Vietnam in November 2024. (Photo: PH)

Estonia currently has a great interest in the Asia-Pacific region and Southeast Asia. What is expected of Vietnam in this policy, especially as a bridge between Estonia and ASEAN, Ambassador?

In recent years, Estonia has shown increasing interest in the Asia-Pacific region, especially Southeast Asia, a dynamically developing region with a young population, a rapidly growing middle class and an increasingly strategic role on the international stage.

Therefore, the Southeast Asian Market Research Workshop held in early April 2023, in which the Vietnamese Ambassador to Estonia participated and presented a speech, attracted the attention of many Estonian businesses.

Vietnam is an open, dynamic and highly reliable economy. With stable growth, a constantly improving investment environment, an extensive network of FTAs (including EVFTA) and a central role in the global supply chain, Vietnam is an attractive destination for businesses and technology investors from Estonia. The signing and implementation of the EVFTA and EVIPA between Vietnam and the EU also creates a transparent and favorable legal corridor for businesses on both sides to expand trade and access the market.

In addition, with a population of nearly 100 million, a geostrategic location in the heart of Southeast Asia, and a leading role in many regional initiatives, Vietnam is considered an effective gateway for Estonia to access the large ASEAN market, a region with more than 680 million people.

Vietnam also has good relations with all ASEAN member states and regularly acts as a bridge between ASEAN and its dialogue partners, including the EU. Estonia can fully take advantage of Vietnam’s presence to expand multilateral cooperation with ASEAN, especially in areas of Estonia’s interest and strength. This is not only a new direction in economic diplomacy, but also contributes to strengthening inter-regional connectivity, promoting strategic understanding and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Vietnam is considered by Estonia to be a priority partner in the region. We believe that, based on the traditional friendship, through bilateral cooperation mechanisms as well as effectively utilizing the ASEAN and EU frameworks, Vietnam and Estonia can open up more practical and effective cooperation channels in the coming time.

Thank you very much Ambassador!

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/thu-tuong-pham-minh-chinh-tham-estonia-chuyen-tham-lich-su-bat-tay-hop-tac-voi-nguoi-khong-lo-tren-vu-dai-so-316475.html