PM puts forward digital economy development proposals at global summit

Addressing the event that opened in Beijing on September 2 via video, Chinh pointed to the fact that countries are now suffering from combined effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and resource depletion.

Given the context, he said increasing international cooperation in the field of technology is the key to helping countries transform growth models, better exploit resources, promote flows of capital, goods and services, thereby creating a new driving force for economic growth, and ensuring sustainable, inclusive and comprehensive development.

The Prime Minister emphasized that Vietnam’s potential for digital economic development is enormous, for the nation is a dynamic developing economy in ASEAN, it has signed 17 Free Trade Agreements with over 60 partners, and it a market of nearly 100 million consumers, most of whom are young and quickly adapting to digital technology.

To promote international cooperation in the field of technology, the Vietnamese Prime Minister made five specific proposals.

Firstly, he said countries need to take advantage of digital transformation to accelerate the fulfilment of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals 2030, which focus on narrowing the development gaps and social inequality between countries, creating conditions for people in underdeveloped areas to have equal access to services provided on digital platforms.

Secondly, he recommended further strengthening the role of international cooperation agreements on digital technology so that the digital economy develops strongly and in the right direction, while at the same time it ensures cyber security and safety, guarantees privacy, fights monopoly and eliminates inequality in the implementation of tax obligations.

Vietnam is willing to work alongside other countries to build an appropriate legal framework in order to help the digital economy develop strongly, contribute and harmonize with the common interests of the whole society, he stressed.

Thirdly, according to Chinh, it is imperative to strengthen international cooperation in education and training of human resources in the field of science and technology, supporting employees to gradually adapt to digital technology.

Fourthly, he suggested promoting the role of digital technology in trade facilitation, especially the movement of goods by multimodal transport, creating favourable conditions for people’s travel, and ensuring the supply chain is not disrupted in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Last but not least, he said countries need to strengthen cross-border e-commerce on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, thereby helping promote exports, especially for seasonal agricultural and aquatic products.

The Global Trade in Services Summit 2021 opened in Beijing, China, on September 2 as part of the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS) 2021.

This year's event has attracted over 11,000 enterprises from 153 countries and regions, up 45% from last year. Among the 2,400 firms that are showcasing their products and services offline, up to 18% are Fortune 500 companies and leading enterprises, according to the organizers.

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony. Other speakers included Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou, Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Irish Prime Minister Micheal Martin, and WTO Deputy Director-General Anabel Gonzalez.