Hanoi (VNA) – As the host of the 2018 World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEFASEAN 2018), Vietnam has the responsibility to work with the WEF and ASEAN to discussimportant issues and plans for the development of ASEAN member countries amidstthe Fourth Industrial Revolution, said Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

Thisis to help realise the 2025 ASEAN Community Vision, for the interests of theentire region at large and each country individually, contributing to regionaland global prosperity, the leader said in a recent article released on theoccasion of the WEF ASEAN 2018 from September 11-13 in Hanoi.  

ASEANhas enormous opportunities to develop and promote economic links thanks to moreintensive and extensive globalisation and the rapid spread of the fourthIndustrial Revolution, particularly digital technology, internet of things(IoT), artificial intelligence (AI) and big data, he wrote.

ThePM noted that WEF ASEAN 2018’s theme “Entrepreneurship and the fourthIndustrial Revolution” is not only in line with the world’s development trendsbut also with the theme of a “self-reliant and innovative ASEAN Community” thatthe ten-member group set this year.

Theevent gathers many high-ranking leaders of ASEAN countries and its partners,about 1,000 representatives of multi-national corporations and ASEAN andinternational businesses and some 800 domestic enterprises.

Takingplace following APEC Year 2017 and the sixth Greater Mekong Sub-region in March2018, WEF ASEAN 2018 reflects the ever-growing role of Vietnam inASEAN, the region and the world, as well as the confidence of internationalbusinesses and investors in the country’s prospects.

It is also proof of Vietnam'sattractiveness and the trust that global businesses and international investorsvest in Vietnam. It is also a manifestation of Vietnam'snew status after 30 years of reform, exhibiting the country’s pro-activity and“stature” in international integration as well as in shaping the regional andglobal economy.

“The 2018 WEF-ASEAN shall also be a chance forus to deepen relations with a wide range of countries and partners, includingneighbouring countries and strategic and key partners. This is a channel tostrengthen the network of open, multilateralised and diversified foreignrelations, contributing to creating a peaceful and stable environment forsocio-economic development and improving the country’s status and prestige inthe international arena,” the leader wrote.

Of the nearly 1,000 participating internationalbusinesses, many are among the top 500 corporations in the world, possessingvast financial, technological and managerial capacity.

Witnessing Vietnam’sstrong growth would encourage the businesses to step up cooperation andinvestment in Vietnamthrough plans and projects that aim to harness the opportunities of the FourthIndustrial Revolution.

Cooperation with these multinational corporations is an opportunity and driverfor Vietnamese businesses, daring them to think big and do big to raisecompetitiveness, quality and efficiency, according to the PM.

The success of the 2018 WEF-ASEAN shall breathenew life and create new drivers for international integration, thus affirming Vietnam'srole, status and contributions in ASEAN and the region.

It shall stir national pride and exhort thespirit of self-reliance and the aspiration to rise to the challenge, to build asocialist Vietnamwith wealthy people, strong nation, democracy, equality and civilisation, PMPhuc concluded.-VNA