Viet Nam seeks to stimulate trade, build skills, and strengthen Southeast Asian economies in line with sustainable development through digital transformation, the country's Prime Minister announced on October 12.
The government, co-hosting a flagship conference with the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has pledged to harness innovation to improve people's living standards substantially by 2030.
"As the world is still severely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, digital technologies and services have proven their superiority when it comes to flexibility and creating a conducive environment for ideas and initiatives to overcome challenges, safely adapt to the pandemic, and engage in sustainable economic recovery and growth," said the Prime Minister, Pham Minh Chinh, at the opening ceremony for ITU Digital World 2021 on 12 October.
In line with international practice, he added, "the Government of Viet Nam considers the digital and data infrastructure, alongside its national digital platforms, to be a key factor."
ITU Secretary-General Houlin Zhao asserted the need for public-private cooperation to extend digital benefits worldwide.
He urged governments and industry everywhere to ensure connectivity for the estimated 3.7 billion people who still lack it.
"Together, we will make major leaps towards delivering on the promise to connect the unconnected by 2030," Zhao said at the conference opening in Ha Noi.
"The spirit of multilateral cooperation is what lies at the center of all ITU's events, activities and processes," he added. "From now until December, we invite public and private sector leaders to share experiences and expectations in the virtual sessions provided by this latest event in the 50-year-old Telecom series, ITU Digital World 2021."
The ceremony marked the 50th anniversary of the first ITU Telecom, the forerunner of this year's largely virtual conference and exhibition.
In a formal opening ceremony livestreamed across the globe, ITU Digital World 2021 welcomed high level participants from the public and private sectors and across the information and communication technology (ICT) industry.
Last year, ITU accepted Viet Nam's initiative to rebrand from ITU Telecom World to ITU Digital World, reflecting the accelerating convergence of telecommunication and digital technology.
"Also because of this convergence, the number of government ministers and global ICT industry leaders attending the event has tripled since last year," the Minister said.
"Vietnamese digital technology companies were given the hefty responsibility of preparing the infrastructure for the Digital World virtual exhibition," he added.
The three-month sequence of discussions highlights a timely theme: 'Building the digital world. Together.'
Viet Nam's national digital transformation plan aims to harness private domestic entrepreneurship in tandem with efficient e-government. Hosting Telecom parallels the country's ambitions for rapid, inclusive digital transformation that can illuminate viable socio-economic development options for the whole ten-member Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
This year's programme of ministerial roundtable discussions explores the role of policy and regulation in driving digital transformation.
(Source: ITU)
