Photo: weforum.org
Vietnam is determined to integrate globally, reform its business environment, enhance its position and responsibility in ASEAN and promotes its relations with WEF.
The WEF is a global forum involving leaders of world powers and international organizations. The WEF organizes regional and global forums to discuss economic and development issues.
Besides the big annual forum in late January in Davos, Switzerland, there are smaller forums on East Asia, Latin-America, and the Middle East.
Vietnam’s resolve for reform and integration
Themed “Youth, Technology and Growth: Securing ASEAN’s Digital and Demographic Dividends”, the WEF-ASEAN 2017 forum coincides with the 50th founding anniversary of ASEAN.
It will be attended by more than 600 delegates, including the Prime Ministers of Cambodia, Laos, and Vietnam, and the President of the Philippines.
The event will focus on assessing ASEAN’s development and integration and problems the bloc will face in the months ahead. Other issues on the agenda are ASEAN’s position in the new global geopolitical and economic landscape, the prospects of the ASEAN Economic Community, and impacts of the Fourth Industrial Revolution on education, labor, competitiveness, and the digital economy in ASEAN countries.
Vietnam will promote its image as a dynamic economy with resolute determination to reform and integrate globally and to build a constructive government to enhance the trust businesses and global partners.
The event is an opportunity for Vietnam to affirm its position and responsibility in ASEAN and expand its cooperation with the WEF. Vietnam will host the WEF-ASEAN forum in 2018.
Promoting Vietnam-WEF relations
Vietnam and the WEF established relations in 1989. Vietnamese leaders have attended the annual WEF in Davos and the WEF-ASEAN forum. Former Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s attendance at the WEF 2007 and 2010 forums opened a new chapter in Vietnam-WEF relations.
In January this year Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc attended the meeting where a cooperative agreement was signed promoting Vietnam’s economy of self-reliance and the WEF approved Vietnam’s hosting of the WEF-ASEAN forum in 2018.
The WEF is an important dialogue channel for Vietnam and global corporations. Vietnam has organized meetings with businesses on the sideline of the forum.
The Vietnam-initiated WEF-Mekong forum in October 2016, drew about 200 high-ranking leaders and business people from Mekong countries and nearly 100 delegates from WEF member countries.
Vietnam and the WEF have cooperated in improving national competitiveness, agriculture, and industry. Vietnam is one of the WEF’s key partners in the “New Vision in Agriculture” initiative.
Ten Vietnamese corporations have WEF membership including FPT, Vingroup, Vinacapital, and the military telecommunications group Viettel./.