PM Chinh advocates bold ASEAN approach to smart era at WEF
VOV.VN - Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has called for ASEAN to enter the smart era with ambition and readiness to “think big and act boldly,” leveraging science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation as key drivers of growth.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attended and delivered a speech at a discussion session on ASEAN's cohesion for progress, chaired by World Economic Forum (WEF) President Borge Brende as part of the 55th WEF in Switzerland, on January 22 (local time).
Joining the Vietnamese cabinet leader were Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, Chief Advisor to the Interim Prime Minister of Bangladesh Muhammad Yunus, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for Myanmar Julie Bishop, and Mastercard Chair Merit Janow.
During the session, Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim outlined three priorities for ASEAN in 2025, including ensuring energy infrastructure, particularly for green and alternative energy; enhancing regional connectivity with a focus on artificial intelligence and climate change response.
The speakers hailed ASEAN’s dynamic role and potential, noting that ASEAN is not only a global economic growth driver but also stands on the threshold of pioneering a transition into the smart era. The regional bloc’s unique advantage lies in its entrepreneurial and innovative youth-a “digital generation” poised to be the region’s growth engine.
PM Chinh, while sharing that Vietnam is the fastest-growing economy in ASEAN, acknowledged the challenges of the smart era and emphasized that embracing it is inevitable.
Touching on his vision for ASEAN's future, Chinh highlighted six key pillars for ASEAN’s success in the smart era, including ensuring political and security stability, achieving sustainable economic growth, promoting cultural unity in diversity, ensuring the sustainable use of resources and environmental protection, advancing social progress and equity, and fostering inclusive development with no one left behind.
The Vietnamese Government chief highlighted Vietnam’s determination to lead in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation, accentuating strategic priorities in institutional reform, infrastructure development, and human resource preparation.
Vietnam has issued Resolution 57 to support national innovation and is focused on investing in IT infrastructure and preparing skilled workers for emerging industries such as green transformation, digitalization, and the knowledge based economy, he said.
Regarding Myanmar, PM Chinh expressed his firm belief that with unity and solidarity for their common goal, ASEAN will contribute to bringing peace, stability, and happiness back to the people of Myanmar.
This session marked PM Pham Minh Chinh’s final activity at the 55th WEF. Later that evening, he and his delegation departed Switzerland, concluding a successful trip that included official visits to Poland and the Czech Republic, attendance at the WEF, and bilateral meetings in Switzerland.
