Vietnam to share international vision on solving global challenges

Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to the UN, World Trade Organisation (WTO), and other international organisations in Geneva, made the statement in a recent media interview on the content and significance of the 53rd World Economic Forum Annual Meeting (WEF 53), as well as the contributions of the Vietnamese delegation.

Moving forward, a Vietnamese delegation led by Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha will attend the WEF 53 event in Davos, Switzerland, from January 16 to January 17.

According to Ambassador Mai, the meeting takes place amid the world facing plenty of challenges, such as a cost-of-living crisis, economic recession, economic decline, climate crisis, disruption caused by to climate change, a food crisis, and increasing social polarisation. Along with these issues, many problems are deepening divisions and dividing the geopolitical landscape.

These problems demand that leaders address them immediately and the critical needs of their people while also laying the groundwork for a more resilient, sustainable world by the end of the decade.

At such a pivotal time, the WEF 2023 Annual Meeting is being held on the theme of 'Cooperation in a Fragmented World' and brings together more than 2,700 leaders from governments, businesses, and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) from around the world.

The goal of the meeting, in the words of Professor Klaus Schwab, founder and executive chairman of the WEF, is to discuss ways to address fragmentation and increasing trust erosion at both a global and national levels through increased ties between governments and businesses, thereby enabling a strong and sustainable recovery.

This year's meeting agenda focuses on solutions and public-private partnerships which can deal with the world's most pressing challenges, whilst encouraging world leaders to work together on issues relating to energy, climate and nature, investment, trade, infrastructure, advanced technology, employment, skills, as well as social and health issues; along with geopolitical co-operation in a multipolar world.

The Vietnamese Ambassador stated that, with world politics and the global economy facing numerous crises and challenges, Vietnam has emerged and is recognised by the world as a bright spot for the region and the wider world, not only with its strong commitment and consistent implementation of green transition, energy transformation, digital transformation for post-pandemic recovery, and sustainable development, but it has also achieved numerous impressive results.

The nation achieved GDP growth of 8.02%, the highest rate in the past 12 years, with an economy exceeding US$400 billion for the first time and being ranked 30th globally.

It ranks 23rd in the world in terms of trade scale and has become the largest trading partner in ASEAN for 3 economic centers, namely the United States, China, and the EU.

Vietnamese economic growth in the year ahead is forecast to reach 6.3%, leading Southeast Asian nations.

In line with this, the WEF 2023 is viewed as an opportunity for the nation to share its vision with the international community on uniting to address emerging global challenges, good policy practices, and the nation's experience in international integration, and socio-economic development. This is along with attracting investment, resources, and trade promotion with international organisations, corporations, international investment funds, and those in Switzerland, Ambassador Mai went on to say.

During the course of the two-day event, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha is set to give speeches at discussions focusing on food security.

This represents a good stepping stone to capture the attention of the international community on food security before the country hosts the fourth Global Conference on Sustainable Food System in April.

In addition, the Deputy PM will co-chair the event "Vietnam-WEF Global Business Forum; A journey of green and creative transformation", with the occasion focusing on topics such as the green economy and innovation.

Also within the framework of the meeting, the Deputy Prime Minister will hold a host of bilateral meetings with Prof. Schwab, Achim Steiner, administrator of the UN Development Programme (UNDP), Axel van Trotsenburg, managing director of operations of the World Bank (WB), and several other leaders.

Ambassador Mai said that since the country and the WEF originally established relations in 1989, leaders of the two sides paid close attention to bolstering bilateral ties across a variety of fields.

The nation attended the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos at a high level and the nation hosted the WEF ASEAN Summit in 2018 in Hanoi, the first WEF-Mekong Conference in 2016 in Hanoi, and the WEF East Asia Conference in 2010 in Ho Chi Minh City.

In line with the COVID-19 pandemic containment efforts, the two sides held the first National Strategic Dialogue in 2021 with the aim of strengthening the public-private partnership as a key driver in the comprehensive recovery and sustainable and inclusive development plan.

The two sides are also actively discussing legislation in a bid to sign the Vietnam-WEF co-operation agreement in the new phase, thus creating a framework for further linkages to meet the requirements of the current context.

The Vietnamese side always appreciates the WEF's attention to proposing and carrying out cooperation initiatives with Vietnamese Government agencies in the fields of sustainable development, digital transformation, and innovation.

The country therefore hopes that moving forward, the WEF will continue to help by offering access to advanced knowledge and resources in order to serve sustainable development goals and make effective use of new growth drivers.

The attendance of Deputy PM Ha's delegation clearly demonstrates the nation’s efforts, along with its status as a dynamic and active developing country, a friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community which is ready to solve global challenges, Ambassador Mai added.