Vietnam and UNICEF strengthen cooperation on digital transformation and child protection in the online environment

On the afternoon of October 30, at the Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST), Permanent Deputy Minister Vu Hai Quan received and worked with Mr. Kaan Cetinturk, Global Technology Director of the United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF). The meeting aimed to discuss and update the direction of cooperation between the two sides in the fields of digital transformation, artificial intelligence (AI) and child protection in the digital environment.

Overview of the working session.

Speaking at the meeting, Mr. Kaan Cetinturk said that UNICEF has renamed the field "Information and Communication Technology (ICT)" to "Digital Impact" to better reflect the goal of aiming at the real value and impact of technology on children. He highly appreciated Vietnam's strong progress in digital transformation and innovation, saying that Vietnam is demonstrating its pioneering role in the region in developing technology for sustainable development.

Mr. Kaan Cetinturk expressed his hope that UNICEF will continue to accompany Vietnam in initiatives on technology, AI and child protection, especially in the context of the world rapidly shifting to a digital economy .

Ms. Michaela Bauer, Deputy Representative of UNICEF in Vietnam, said that next November, UNICEF will celebrate 50 years of cooperation with Vietnam, an important milestone in the journey of accompanying and supporting Vietnam in the fields of health, education , nutrition and human resource development.

In the new phase, UNICEF wishes to continue to cooperate with Vietnam on three main pillars: Narrowing the digital divide, helping every child have the opportunity to learn and develop digital skills; Strengthening child protection in cyberspace; and supporting Vietnam in responding to climate change, enhancing the resilience of children and communities.

"UNICEF is ready to work closely with the Ministry of Science and Technology, the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Health and relevant agencies to ensure that Vietnam's digital transformation is comprehensive, safe and humane for all children," Ms. Michaela Bauer affirmed.

Speaking at the meeting, Permanent Deputy Minister Vu Hai Quan thanked UNICEF for its continuous support to Vietnam over the past 50 years, and shared the orientation of the Ministry of Science and Technology in building digital transformation policies and developing AI associated with human factors. The Deputy Minister said that in the draft Law on Digital Transformation, the Ministry has proposed two key contents to ensure that people with disabilities and students can access the Internet and digital technology, while prioritizing the development of energy and telecommunications infrastructure in rural and mountainous areas, ensuring that no one is left behind.

According to the Deputy Minister, there are currently about 200 villages and hamlets nationwide that do not have electricity and internet. The Ministry of Science and Technology is coordinating with ministries, branches and localities to soon overcome this problem next year, despite the huge cost, especially in the northern mountainous areas.

Also according to Deputy Minister Vu Hai Quan, in the draft AI Law, Vietnam pays special attention to protecting children and vulnerable people in cyberspace, ensuring equal access and safety for all citizens in the digital society.

Mr. Kaan Cetinturk said that UNICEF is implementing a Digital Impact Strategy with a focus on digital inclusion to reduce the technology gap between population groups. He shared some of UNICEF's AI application models being deployed around the world, such as in Malaysia - AI helps detect students at risk of dropping out of school early; in Laos - AI predicts air pollution and warns children to wear masks when going to school; in Uruguay - AI supports the conversion of textbooks into digital format for children with disabilities, shortening the process from several months to just a few hours.

Deputy Minister Vu Hai Quan said that Vietnam is building a National Strategy on AI development, in which AI ethics and safety are the focus. The Deputy Minister hopes that UNICEF will share international experiences, documents and models to support Vietnam in effectively implementing AI programs related to children and developing a digital society.

UNICEF representative said that UNICEF is ready to coordinate with the Ministry of Science and Technology to develop an AI Competency Framework for teachers and students by 2035, and co-compile a Child Cyber ​​Safety Handbook and guidance documents for digital platforms.

The two sides agreed to promote the organization of the Asia-Pacific Regional Conference on Children's Rights in the Digital Space in Vietnam in 2026, on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of UNICEF Vietnam cooperation and the 35th anniversary of Vietnam's ratification of the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the first country in Asia and the second in the world to do so.

Permanent Deputy Minister Vu Hai Quan gave gifts and took souvenir photos.

Center for Science and Technology Communication

Source: https://mst.gov.vn/viet-nam-va-unicef-tang-cuong-hop-tac-ve-chuyen-doi-so-va-bao-ve-tre-em-trong-moi-truong-mang-197251030182551294.htm