VNHNO - The 2018 World Economic Forum on ASEAN Summit (2018 WEF ASEAN) hosted by Vietnam takes place in Hanoi from September 11-13 and promises to be one of the largest multilateral foreign events held in Vietnam this year. Under the theme “ASEAN 4.0: Entrepreneurship and the Fourth Industrial Revolution”, the WEF ASEAN 2018 is an important milestone in Vietnam's foreign affairs, affirming Vietnam's active and responsible contributions to regional integration and prosperity.
The WEF was founded in 1971 under the idea of founder and chairman Klaus Schwab. Over the past 47 years, the WEF has affirmed its position as one of the most prestigious forums in the world, discussing economic and development issues as well as major trends affecting countries, regions and the globe. The WEF attracts the attention and participation of the business circle and international State leaders, organisations, social activists, and others. The WEF's most important forum is the annual forum held in late January, in Davos, Switzerland. Regional WEF conferences such as the WEF ASEAN and WEF Tianjin in China are also highly regarded.
Deputy PM Bui Thanh Son (R) and head of the Asia-Pacific region of the WEF Justin Wood answer reporters' question at the press conference on WEF ASEAN held in Hanoi on September 6. Photo: VNA
Vietnam, a vibrant and dynamic economy in Southeast Asia, is an important partner of the WEF in ASEAN. As a bridge for Vietnam to promote its economic relations with developed countries in the context of trade embargoes, the WEF has so far become an important forum for dialogue between the Vietnamese Government and the world's leading corporations, helping to open up investment and development opportunities.
The WEF is looking forward to strengthening multifaceted cooperation with Vietnam, a country playing an active role in the economic development of ASEAN. The cooperation agreement between Vietnam and the WEF on "Developing self-reliant Vietnamese economy" is being actively implemented by the two sides.
Since the establishment of the partnership in 1989, Vietnam has always responsibly and effectively participated in WEF initiatives, including "New Vision for Agriculture", "Asian Growth", and "The Green Growth Action Alliance" in order to convey the message of a country actively contributing to addressing global problems and promoting deeper international integration.
President of the WEF, Borge Brende, has also paid a number of visits to and held working sessions in Vietnam. Vietnamese senior leaders also regularly attend the WEF in Davos and the WEF on East Asia (the predecessor of WEF ASEAN). At these forums, the Vietnamese delegation always conveyed the message about the prospects of the Vietnamese economy, Vietnamese determination for comprehensive reform of the country and Vietnam's active integration into the world.
The WEF ASEAN 2018 takes place in Hanoi from September 11 – 13 and will be an important forum for leaders of Governments and large enterprises of ASEAN countries to discuss and share their visions, ideas and policy orientations on significant issues of the region.
The theme of this year's forum is said to be substantive, meeting the common interests of ASEAN countries and their partners which is also associated with the ASEAN theme in 2018 of “Resilient and Innovative ASEAN”.
The forum will have about 60 sessions, focusing on critical issues related to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, such as identifying new visions for ASEAN in regional integration; developing smart infrastructure, start-ups, and innovations in the context of the Industry 4.0; and others, thereby utilising the potential and nerve of ASEAN in the new era.
Vietnam's hosting of the WEF ASEAN 2018 not only creates opportunities for Vietnam to promote its images to the region and the world, but also affirms the Party and State policy of active international integration while showing Vietnam's proactive and responsible contributions to common issues in the region. The forum is also an opportunity to boost cooperation between Vietnamese enterprises and leading corporations in the world while deepening the relationship between Vietnam and the WEF. Through the WEF ASEAN 2018, Vietnam will continue to create a good impression on international friends about a peaceful, stable and dynamic country.
Given the ever increasing status and power of the country and the trust of international friends, the WEF ASEAN 2018 hosted by Vietnam shall be a success, contributing to raising the status of Vietnam in the international arena and demonstrating Vietnam's determination to contribute to building a peaceful, stable, sustainable and deeply international integrated ASEAN in the Industry 4.0 era./.
