On the afternoon of January 14, 2026, in Hanoi, within the framework of the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers' Meeting (ADGMIN 6), Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung met and held a bilateral working session with Mr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN.
During the meeting, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung expressed his pleasure at meeting the ASEAN Secretary-General again and thanked the ASEAN Secretariat for its close cooperation and active support to Vietnam in preparing and organizing the 6th ADGMIN Conference and related series of conferences. The Minister affirmed that the ASEAN Secretariat's partnership was a crucial factor in ensuring the success of the Conference, thereby enhancing Vietnam's role and position as the host country.
ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn thanked Minister Nguyen Manh Hung for taking the time to receive the delegation, and highly appreciated Vietnam's proactive and responsible role in hosting and coordinating the 6th ADGMIN Conference. Mr. Kao Kim Hourn emphasized Vietnam's thorough and professional preparation for the entire ADGMIN series this year, from program content to organization and management.
According to the ASEAN Secretary-General, ADGMIN is the first ASEAN Ministerial Meeting to take place in 2026 – a pivotal year for the region's development. Under the leadership of Minister Nguyen Manh Hung, the 6th ADGMIN Meeting is expected to make significant strides, contributing to shaping ASEAN's digital cooperation direction in this new phase of development.
Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn particularly appreciated the adoption of the ASEAN Digital Transformation Master Plan 2026–2030 by the 6th ADGMIN Conference. This is considered a strategic document, guiding the development of digital technology in the region amidst the rapid growth of artificial intelligence (AI), which has the potential for widespread application in all socio-economic sectors. He believes that ADGMIN should become a pioneering forum for ASEAN in the field of digital technology, especially AI and other emerging technologies.
Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung presents a commemorative gift to Mr. Kao Kim Hourn, Secretary-General of ASEAN.
During the working session, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung stated that the ASEAN Digital Transformation Master Plan, adopted by the Ministers at ADGMIN 6, demonstrates many important innovations, clearly reflecting a "digital-centric" mindset. Accordingly, traditional telecommunications infrastructure is being transformed into digital infrastructure; AI is identified as the intelligent infrastructure; ASEAN countries are shifting from e-government to digital government models; innovation is being promoted in the direction of digital innovation; and the focus of economic development is identified as the digital economy.
Minister Nguyen Manh Hung also informed that Vietnam has just passed the Law on Artificial Intelligence, for the first time legalizing the concept of "intelligent infrastructure," considering AI similar to electricity – an essential infrastructure for socio-economic development in the digital age. In addition, Vietnam has enacted the Law on Digital Transformation, a pioneering law developed under the leadership of the Ministry of Science and Technology, aiming to create a comprehensive legal foundation for the national digital transformation process.
Minister Nguyen Manh Hung emphasized that ASEAN needs to develop its own AI approach, tailored to the region's conditions, characteristics, and advantages. According to the Minister, if ASEAN only applies models and approaches from outside, it will be difficult to build a sustainable competitive advantage. In that spirit, Vietnam proposes a "Problem first" approach – focusing on the practical problems of the nation and the region, and then applying AI to solve specific, practical development issues with a ripple effect.
Highly appreciating the insights shared by Minister Nguyen Manh Hung, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn stated that Vietnam is ahead of many countries in building a legal framework for digital technology. Vietnamese laws not only serve the goals of state management and governance but also create favorable conditions for the business community to develop effectively in the digital environment. He fully supported the view that ASEAN needs to proactively develop its own approach to AI, in the spirit of solidarity, cooperation, and sharing within the bloc.
The ASEAN Secretary-General emphasized that AI is a new field with much untapped potential for development. Given that developed countries have significant advantages in resources and investment, ASEAN nations need to strengthen intra-bloc cooperation to create common strength, avoiding fragmentation and dependence. According to him, ADGMIN 6 is an important opportunity to initiate regional cooperation initiatives on investment, research, application, and development of AI.
Minister Nguyen Manh Hung further affirmed Vietnam's readiness to play the role of a "sandbox"—a testing ground for new ideas and models in the digital and AI fields. From these trials, Vietnam is ready to share its experiences, successful lessons, and challenges with other ASEAN countries. The Minister also expressed his hope that, through the ASEAN Secretariat, Vietnam's initiatives and practical experiences in digital transformation, digital infrastructure development, and AI will be widely disseminated to member states.
The meeting contributed to deepening the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and the ASEAN Secretariat, while affirming Vietnam's proactive role, responsibility, and long-term vision in promoting regional digital cooperation, towards building a digital ASEAN, a common intellectual infrastructure for the sustainable and inclusive development of the entire bloc.
- See also
ADGSOM 6 paves the way for an interconnected ASEAN digital ecosystem.
- See also
ASEAN accelerates digital cooperation: Reviewing key initiatives ahead of ADGSOM 6
- See also
Vietnam leads ASEAN digital cooperation as Chair of ADGSOM 2026.
Source: https://mst.gov.vn/viet-nam-de-xuat-dong-vai-role-sandbox-cho-sang-kien-so-va-ai-cua-asean-197260114190949369.htm
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