Dear Comrade Xi Jinping, Comrade Xi Jinping, General Secretary, President of the People's Republic of China
Excellencies Leaders of Governments and international organizations,
Distinguished delegates,
Today, it is my great honor and pleasure to deliver my remarks at the Opening Ceremony of the 2021 Global Trade in Services Summit, under the theme of “Digitalisation opens the future, Services promote development”. At the outset, I wish to express my sincere thanks to Comrade Xi Jinping, General-Secretary, President of the People’s Republic of China, for inviting me to this meaningful Summit. On this occasion, on behalf of the Government of Vietnam, I would like to extend my heartfelt greetings, warm regards and best wishes to Excellencies Leaders and distinguished delegates present.
Ladies and gentlemen,
We are entering the 3rd decade of the 21st century, an era of digitalization with numerous intertwined opportunities and challenges. In the context that countries are suffering from the synergistic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, climate change and resource depletion, promoting international cooperation and effective use of digital technology are among the key solutions. That will create new impetus for economic growth and recovery, thus ensuring sustainable, inclusive, and comprehensive development. Moreover, stepping up cooperation in the field of digitization is a contributing factor to building an environment of peace, stability, cooperation and development among nations and peoples around the world.
We are very impressed by the outstanding achievements and sound investments in digital technology, as seen in many countries, including China. Reality has shown that the development and application of science and technology have ushered in tremendous benefits. They have enabled economies to transform growth models, better exploit existing resources, and promote the flow of capital, goods, and services of unprecedented scale and magnitude.
Vietnam has long been aware of the importance of digitalization. Accordingly, we have been accelerating digital transformation of the economy, and the development of digital economy and society. With that in mind, I wish to share with you the following points:
Firstly, take advantage of the opportunity to prevent and fight the COVID-19 pandemic for digitalization with the focus on digital technology and digital economy, in order to accelerate the achievement of the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals. Vietnam looks forward to the active and effective cooperation of the international community that to make digital transformation truly become a new way to narrow not only the development gap between countries but also social inequalities.
Second, it is necessary to uphold the role of international agreements on digital technology and the digital economy. In addition to promoting these areas, the agreements should give due regard to the legitimate needs of countries in ensuring cyber security and safety and personal privacy, preventing monopoly and eliminating inequality in tax obligations. In this spirit, Vietnam has participated in shaping new norms about e-commerce in free trade agreements, the most recent ones being the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the ASEAN - China Free Trade Area (ACFTA). We highly appreciate China’s ideas and efforts in these fields, and stands ready to cooperate with China and other countries to formulate an appropriate legal framework, intending to promote the healthy, rapid, suitable, extensive, effective and harmonious with the common interests of the whole society.
Third, it is essential to strengthen cooperation in education and human resource training and bolster the connectivity of the scientific and technological communities between different countries and regions. That would help improve digital literacy and skills for businesses and residents; would support workers, especially those in disadvantaged groups, in gradually adapting to digital technology.
Fourth, we need to promote digital technology in trade facilitation, supporting the flow of goods, services and people's movement, especially the movement of goods by multimodal transport, to ensure an uninterrupted supply chain in the context that the Covid-19 pandemic may be prolonged.
Fifth, we should bolster cooperation to enhance cross-border e-commerce on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, thereby promoting exports, especially those of seasonal agricultural and aquacultural goods.
Ladies and gentlemen,
As an ASEAN member with a dynamically developing economy, Vietnam has a network of 17 Free Trade Agreements with over 60 partners, a domestic market of nearly 100 million people, the majority of which is made up of young people, and an innovation-driven mindset that is highly responsive to digital technologies. Vietnam's potential for digital economic development is enormous. Currently, Vietnam has about 70% of the population using the Internet, is among the fastest-growing countries in terms of digital evolution momentum in the world.
Vietnam always expects that cooperation in the development of digital economies will be given due priority and become a core focus in its relations with other countries and its Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with China. Currently, China is Vietnam's largest trading partner, while Vietnam is China’s 5th largest trading partner in the world and the largest within ASEAN. Vietnam attaches great importance to cooperation with China and other countries n trade in services and digital economy development, especially constantly developing towards openness, inclusiveness, sustainability, respect and equality, humanity and mutual benefit. Such concerted efforts would be a meaningful contributor to the development of each country and bring about substantial benefits to the region and the world.
May the 2021 Global Trade in Services Summit be a resounding success!
I wish you all good health, happiness and greater success.
Thank you./.
PHAM MINH CHINH
Prime Minister
Socialist Republic of Vietnam
