Vietnam desires to make greater contributions to future of Asia

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Pham Quang Hieu made the statement during a recent media interview to discuss Vietnam’s message extended to the international community at the 28th Future of Asia Conference.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Luu Quang is set to attend the 28th Future of Asia Conference whilst paying a working visit to Japan from May 24 to May 26.

The Future Asia Conference is the leading prestigious annual international conference in Asia as organised by Nikkei Group of Japan since 1995.

This represents a prestigious policy exchange forum where senior leaders of participating countries can openly and honestly discuss emerging issues in Asia, opportunities and challenges for development, security, peace, and stability, thereby shaping future policies. This is along with proposing co-operation ideas and solutions to enhance understanding, in addition to promoting cohesion in order to raise Asia's position in the world for the sake of development and prosperity.

According to details given by the Vietnamese Ambassador, the theme of this year's conference is to focus on enhancing Asia's power in terms of addressing global challenges.

The theme is an urgent topic for leaders of governments, businesses, and scholars as they come together to discuss the urgent opportunities and challenges that the continent and the world are facing. This includes new development trends as well as commitments on efforts to contribute to peace and common prosperity of countries in the region, from which assessments, comments, initiatives, and suggestions will be made to actively contribute to the process of solving regional and international challenges and issues.

Referring to the message that Deputy PM Quang will send to the international community at the conference, Ambassador Hieu said that the nation sending a delegation led by Deputy PM Quang to attend the conference not only shows its deep concern over the conference, but also demonstrates the importance of the Asia Future Forum in general in the nation’s foreign policy.

Deputy PM Quang’s direct discussions at the conference will send a strong message that the Vietnamese side is a reliable partner and an active and responsible member of the international community that is willing to join hands with other countries in order to discuss and find a way to solve urgent and global challenges today. This is along with contributing to peace, stability, and development in the region and the world as a whole.

This is also a manifestation of the Party's foreign policy of continuing to promote and improve the efficiency of foreign affairs and international integration, whilst also seeking to raise the level of multilateral diplomacy.

Touching upon the contents of the 28th Asia Future Conference agenda and Vietnamese contributions to the agenda, Ambassador Hieu said that the Future of Asia Agenda always captures the attention and attendance of senior leaders, politicians, scholars, and businesses from Asian countries, as well as representatives of major economic groups throughout the world.

This is a forum specifically for delegates to openly discuss regional issues, Asia's role, and the continent’s potential in the global picture and solutions to enhance the region's position.

There will be six speeches given by high-ranking leaders of countries and six thematic discussion sessions at this year’s conference.

Deputy PM Quang is expected to deliver a speech on the first day of the event, sharing the country’s views on major Asian issues, its experience and solutions to the common challenges of Asia, and efforts to control the COVID-19 pandemic whilst boosting economic recovery.

Talking about the nation’s active and responsible contributions to the Asia Future Conference in particular and peace, stability, and prosperity in Asia in general over recent years, the Vietnamese diplomat said the country began attending the 15th Future of Asia Conference back in 2009 and has continuously sent high-level delegations to attend the conference since then.

The participation of the Vietnamese delegation at the Future of Asia Conferences over recent years was highly appreciated by the Organizing Committee, the participants, as well as the Japanese side.

Overcoming numerous difficulties and challenges has seen the country record positive post-COVID recovery, with important economic achievements in 2022. Most notably, gross domestic product (GDP) growth reached 8.02%, whilst the GDP scale exceeded US$400 billion, ranking fourth in ASEAN. With a trade turnover of more than US$730 billion, Vietnam was listed in the group of 30 countries and territories with the largest export value of goods globally.

By attending the conference, Vietnam will not only participate in assessing and commenting on the global and regional situation, analysing urgent opportunities and challenges, but will also work with other countries to find solutions to difficulties, and common challenges, while consolidating trust in a bid to create a solid foundation for the future.

“As a developing country deeply integrated into the global economy, Vietnam especially values international cooperation and multilateralism. With the spirit of solidarity and cooperation, I believe that Asia can jointly create strength towards the future,” Ambassador Hieu added.