Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of WEF, and Standing Deputy Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son at a press conference to launch a book on 4IR. (Photo: VNA)
Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum, and Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son attended a press conference on September 11th to launch the book, forming part of activities in the framework of the ongoing WEF on ASEAN 2018 in Hanoi.
Klaus Schwab, author of the book, expressed his hope that the book will serve as a catalyst that helps Vietnamese people become a major force in the 4IR.
“My message is countries which miss the 4IR will be the losers of tomorrow,” Klaus Schwab said. “We cannot overestimate the impact of the 4IR, not only to business models but also to economy and society,” he added.
Economies need to make sure their policy making will help entrepreneurs see the revolution not as a threat but as opportunities, not only for Vietnam but for the whole region, thus making the region the most competitive force in the future, he said.
In the book, which has been translated into 29 languages, Prof. Schwab described how new technologies are fundamentally changing the way people live, work and communicate with each other, showing that the 4IR goes beyond what we saw in the past in terms of size, speed, and scope.
“The book provides a comprehensive overview of major trends which shape our world while giving readers with a way of thinking and analyzing the historic changes to ensure the benefit of this revolution,” Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Son said.
Son, who instructed the translation of the book into Vietnamese, expressed his thanks to Prof. Schwab for granting the book translation and publishing in Vietnam, saying that it will be a valuable reference for Vietnam to be well prepared for the 4IR.
Answering reporters at the press conference on Vietnam’s preparation for the WEF on ASEAN 2018, Klaus Schwab emphasized the effective cooperation and partnership between the WEF and Vietnam for the event.
“The WEF ASEAN 2018, with participation of over 1,000 delegates from the region and global businesses, is the WEF’s biggest meeting in ASEAN. It shows confidence and potential of Vietnam and ASEAN,” he said.
The WEF ASEAN 2018 themed ’ASEAN 4.0: Entrepreneurship and the Fourth Industrial Revolution’ is taking place in Hanoi from September 11th -13th.
The 1,000 participants are from 43 countries and regions. Among the delegates are the prime ministers of Cambodia, Laos, Malaysia, Singapore, and Sri Lanka, the presidents of Indonesia and the Philippines, and Myanmar's State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi.
The event provides platform for government and business leaders to discuss and share policy ideas and initiatives for the region’s key issues, especially in the face of the 4th industrial revolution.
In 2010, Vietnam hosted the World Economic Forum on East Asia for the first time.
The WEF was established in 1971 as a non-profit foundation and is headquartered in Geneva. The forum engages political, business, and other leaders to shape global, regional, and industry agendas.
Founded in 1967, ASEAN groups together Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam./.