As a keynote speaker during a discussion session on ASEANstrategic prospects on January 24 morning, Hue said major political andeconomic changes in the region and the world along with technological advanceshave been and will continue to impact ASEAN and its members in many ways.Therefore, ASEAN needs to continue upholding its central role in regionalcooperation mechanisms, implement the plan to build the ASEAN EconomicCommunity and the Master Plan on ASEAN Connectivity while pushing forward with practicalcooperation in science-technology, digital infrastructure, e-commerce,education-training, facilitation of skilled workers’ movement and tappingeconomic deals with partners in and outside the region.
Vietnam pledges to continue working with ASEAN membernations and partners in the above-said fields, making responsible contributionsto promoting dialogues, solidarity, unity and strengthening ASEAN’s centralrole, he stated.
The day before, in his opening speech at the ASEAN nightbanquet on January 23, Hue underscored the need to improve training-educationand fuel innovation to catch up with the industrial revolution 4.0, which ispushing labour restructuring and movement through extensive automation.
He said as host of the APEC Year 2017, Vietnam and regionalmembers adopted a number of initiatives, vision and strategic orientations towardsinclusive development, regional economic connectivity, cross-border e-commercefacilitation and human resources improvement in digital era.
In 2017, the Vietnamese economy recorded the highest growthin a decade with improved competitiveness and business climate, marchingtowards prosperity and inclusive development together with ASEAN community, hesaid.
On the sidelines of the WEF, the Vietnamese Deputy PM heldseveral bilateral meetings with foreign government and business leaders.
Meeting Prime Minister of Peru Mercedes Aráoz, Deputy PM Huesuggested the two countries continue to facilitate all-level visits, maintain regularmeetings of the Inter-Committee on Economic-Trade and Investment Cooperationmechanism, and soon launch the political consultation mechanism.
He asked the Peruvian government to provide support forVietnamese business operations in the country, back Vietnam’s bid for a non-permanentseat in the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure, andrecognise Vietnam as a market economy.
Talking with the Vietnamese leader, Dutch Minister forForeign Trade and Development Cooperation Sigrid Kaag stressed Vietnam is animportant political and economic partner of the Netherlands and wished toreinforce bilateral strategic partnership in the fields of water resourcesmanagement and agriculture.
She said the Netherlands backs the early signing of theVietnam – European Union Free Trade Agreement and will send a businessdelegation to Vietnam to seek opportunities in water resources and agriculture.
In a conversation with WEF Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab,Deputy PM Hue asked for the WEF’s coordination in deciding the theme, agendaand participants of the WEF -ASEAN 2018 slated for September in Hanoi.
Schwab said the WEF is actively implementing the Vietnam –WEF cooperation agreement, particularly in infrastructure, investment in theform of public-private partnership (PPP), trade and manufacturing industry. Hehoped that more and more Vietnamese firms will cooperate with WEF in thefuture.
During meetings with executives from HSBC, Google, BAESystem, Marsh&Mc Lennan, SK and Carlsberg, Hue stressed that the Vietnamesegovernment always creates favourable conditions for foreign enterprises to do long-termbusiness in Vietnam and join the country’s economic restructuring incombination with renewing growth model.
He also asked the groups to attend the WEF ASEAN 2018 inHanoi.
The executives described Vietnam as an important market andexpressed wish to do long-term business in the country.
In the afternoon the same day, Hue attended the InformalGathering of World Economic Leaders that discussed financial mobilisation forsustainable development.-VNA