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ASEAN promote cooperation in information technology and telecommunications

December 10, 2018 | 10:14 am GMT+7

On December 5, the 18th ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting (TELMIN) opened in Bali, Indonesia. Attending the event were Ministers from 10 ASEAN member countries and Dialogue Ministers from China, Japan, Korea, India, USA and Secretary General of the International Telecommunication Union (ITU). The Vietnamese delegation was led by Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Manh Hung and representatives of some organizations and major ICT companies attended the event.

The meeting aims to launch the ICT Master Plan (AIM 2020) and enhance cooperation to complete AIM 2020, to promote ASEAN towards a secured, innovated and sustainable digital economy.

The ASEAN leaders adopted a Declaration on Cyber Security Cooperation recognizing the growing urgency and sophistication of cross-border cyber threats.

Secretary-General Lim Jock Hoi said: The digital economy is one of the new growth drivers that could improve ASEAN's GDP by another $ 1 trillion by 2025 while it now accounts for only 7 percent of ASEAN's GDP. In addition, this promotes economies, creates jobs, promotes innovation, contributes tax, and develops skills and competencies.

Taking place on December 5-6, under the theme "Towards the Future of the Digital Economy for a Prosperous ASEAN," at the Meeting, the Ministers discussed and confirmed the determination to promote the AIM2020 initiatives, to accelerate the transition of ASEAN's digital economy towards a creative, secure and sustainable Digital Integration Community.

Ministers also affirm the importance of promoting cooperation in the development of regional cyber security policies, sharing information, and mechanisms for coordination between the CERTs of ASEAN as well as of the dialogue partners; encourage the development of OTT services to promote the growth of innovative services, to ensure a healthy and equitable business environment; affiliate the development of open and big data application, establish regular dialogue forums, build and develop new ICT skill sets of ASEAN, etc.

Within the framework of the Meeting, ASEAN Ministers held bilateral working sessions with China, Japan, Korea and the ITU, focusing on ICT policy development, human resources, promotion and adoption of new technologies, network security risks, etc.

Ministers also agreed to extend the ASEAN-China ICT Development Cooperation Memorandum for 2018-2023 and the ITU for 2018-2021.

During the Meeting, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung worked bilaterally with the ASEAN Ministers (Laos, Cambodia, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand and Singapore) to share information as well as exchange cooperation in the coming time.