Minister Nguyen Manh Hung at ASEAN Future Forum
The ASEAN Future Forum, an initiative of the Prime Minister of Vietnam, is a great opportunity for us to exchange views and to discuss the future of ASEAN, one of the fastest growing regions in the world.
The fast development is digital development. The sustainable development is green development. Digital transformation and green transformation will be the most important transformations in the coming decades.
In the digital era, discussing the future of ASEAN, is mostly referring to the digital transformation, to the digital ASEAN.
The theme of ASEAN in 2024, under the Chairmanship of Lao PDR is "Enhancing Connectivity and Resilience". Connectivity and Resilience are the basic factors for digital future of ASEAN.
The future of ASEAN is digital future. We need a new digital institution, a new digital infrastructure, and a new digital human resources. In our ASEAN Future Forum today, I would like to share some views for our digital cooperation.
First, Developing a New Digital Institution
Digital transformation is more of an institutional revolution than a revolution of technologies. We need a new legal framework, to ensure that digital businesses are legal and protected by law.
The development of digital technologies, especially AI, brings both opportunities and challenges for all of us. Decisions on how to use and regulate these technologies will play a decisive role in shaping our future.
The digital legal system is now becoming more complex. We need to share our experience, and work together to develop a Digital Institutional Framework.
Second, Developing a New Digital Infrastructure
Vietnam is going to switch off 2G from September this year. All the mobile phones will be smart phone. And this will boost the digital transformation.
5G and cloud computing are the key of a new digital infrastructure. Vietnam is very proud to holding annual ASEAN conferencre on 5G and cloud computing.
Submarine cables for regional connectivity is also a priority for the next decade. Viet Nam is working with ASEAN partners on submarine cable projects, to secure our and ASEAN international connectivity.
ASEAN digital infrastructure should be super-high capacity, sustainable, green, smart, open and safe. Working together, we can make ASEAN digital infrastructure one of the best.
Third, Developing New Digital Human Resources
Digital technologies will empower the people, but only if they have digital skills. Nearly 700 million citizens of ASEAN should have basic digital knowledge to become digital citizens.
This is very challenging, as more than 50 percent of ASEAN's population are living in rural areas.
Viet Nam has many initiatives to provide basic digital skills to the people, such as: digital village, digital team in every community, using digital platforms and massive open online courses (MOOC) for training. We are willing to share our experience, and to learn from ASEAN colleagues, on such initiatives.
In the digital revolution, the future is not an extended line of the past. ASEAN members, mostly developing countries, by effectively leveraging the benefits of digital technologies, will have the potential for breakthrough development and become developed countries.
ASEAN countries share many similarities, and we will share more similarities in developing digital economy and digital society. The future of ASEAN is one digital ASEAN. And to build the digital ASEAN, we still have a long way to go. So we need to foster our cooperation. To go far, we must go together.
In that spirit, I wish the ASEAN Future Forum a great success! I wish all Leaders and distinguished guests good health and happiness!
