Month: October 2021

When Facing the World (FTW) began its work years ago, its modus operandi was to bring children needing complex facial surgeries from all over the world to the UK.

“We then saw a very high incidence of children being brought over from Vietnam; and we were then invited to go to Vietnam by another charity to see what the situation was,” FTW CEO and Trustee Katrin Kandel said.

The occurrence of birth defects in Vietnam is estimated to be ten times higher than in neighbouring countries.

“So it became clear to us that this would be the first country where we would roll out our programme,” Kandel said.

Over the years, the programme has succeeded in transforming the lives of many children and youth.

Finding new look

“My wife broke out into tears when she saw Chinh for the first time after giving birth to him.”

Pham Duc Dung, Chinh’s father, remembers the moment vividly, almost three decades on.

“She grieved for him and for herself.”

Pham Duc Chinh, 28, was born to a poor farmer couple in a small village in the northern province of Thai Binh.

He was born with Treacher Collins Syndrome, a rare genetic disorder characterised by craniofacial abnormalities. In Chinh’s case, this included down-slanting eyes, absence of cheekbones, underdeveloped ears and a cleft palate.

“His condition was so severe that he stayed at hospitals more often than home during his first three years,” the father told Vietnam News Agency. “I remember his being at emergency rooms all the time.”

When Chinh turned five, his parents decided he should have a normal life and must go to school like other kids do. They took him to hospital after hospital in Hanoi, only to learn that there was nothing much doctors could do about his condition.

The young boy’s facial deformities made school a difficult place to be. “Absent ears made it particularly hard for me to listen in open spaces like classrooms or halls.” But it was not the only problem.

“I was bullied by classmates and younger kids ran away from me in fear,” Chinh recalled.

As time went by, Chinh began to face up to the fact that his facial deformities would be with him forever.

Then, out of the blue, he got a call from a doctor at Hanoi’s 108 Military Central Hospital three years ago. The compassionate doctor offered to sign him up for a charity project run by FTW so that he could receive free reconstructive facial operations.

Chinh went through three plastic surgeries in just one year to reconstruct his eyelids, nose bridge and cheekbones. The surgeries were done at the Centre for Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery established in the 108 Hospital with FTW support in 2018.

“It has been more than a blessing to us,” his father said. They had been waiting for this opportunity for so long.

Now he is finally able to face the world with a lot more confidence.

Sustainable shift

FTW began running medical missions in Vietnam in 2008, during which a multidisciplinary team of medics operated jointly with their Vietnamese counterparts on complex surgical cases like that of Chinh.

Moving away from the model of treating one or two children a year at astronomical cost, the UK-based charity is now able to operate on thousands of children by providing continuous training for Vietnamese doctors.

FTW has so far awarded more than 100 international training fellowships to Vietnamese medics who were sent to top medical institutions in the UK, Canada and the US to observe and learn new techniques and approaches. A further 140 fellowships are currently in the planning.

“We went together as a team of medics from different specialties – anaesthesiology, resuscitation and emergency, neurosurgery, and others – to major hospitals in the UK and Canada, all expenses covered,” said Doctor Vu Ngoc Lam, Director of the Centre for Craniofacial and Plastic Surgery. He was one of the awardees who joined 3-4-week training courses with his colleagues from 108 Hospital about two years ago.

They were instructed in how to perform a number of specific medical techniques neither popular nor done properly in Vietnam, and given the opportunity to meet top experts in different fields.

“It is not difficult to access general information about these techniques from Vietnam, but the main point is that the courses allow Vietnamese doctors to observe, with their own eyes, how the techniques are effectively done,” Lam said. “This is very hard to understand just from reading documents.

“Many children have such complex problems that you cannot fix them with a simple operation,” Kandel explained. “It requires a whole team of doctors including non-surgeons, such as anesthetists, speech therapists, psychiatrists and psychologists… the whole support system has to work together.”

“Our focus is very much on enabling doctors from Vietnam to go all over the world to top medical institutions and observe how these teams work together,” she said, adding that this helps them “establish a relationship and then ultimately bring back or utilise in Vietnam what is most appropriate for Vietnam.”

The foundation expects that in the longer term it can go to another country with Vietnam taking part as the trainer, she added.

‘Learned a lot’

Nguyen Hong Ha, head of the Department of Maxillo-facial, Plastic, Aesthetic Surgery at the Hanoi-based Viet-Duc University Hospital, confirmed that FTW’s approach not only reduced costs, but also improved the professional skills of Vietnamese doctors.

“Instead of bringing some children needing surgeries to the UK, the foundation sends a medical mission to Vietnam. It can take advantage of local health care infrastructure while the mission can conduct operations for many children,” he said, adding that Vietnamese doctors have learned a lot from them.

Ha said he could never forget the first engagement between FTW’s experts and a local team seven years ago. They decided to perform surgery on an 11-month-old baby who had facial differences and a respiratory problem.

It took about 7-8 hours to perform the operation and it was a success in terms of facial improvement. However, the baby developed complications several days after the experts left.

Doctors at the Viet-Duc University Hospital consulted with the experts and agreed that another surgery must be done right away. This was done with consultation of foreign experts via the telehealth platform. Ten days after the three-hour second surgery, the baby was discharged from the hospital. Now she attends school and can speak normally.

“In the past, we didn’t dare to conduct operation on such complicated cases, but after working together with foreign experts, we gained confidence and can now handle up to 90 percent of the surgeries,” he told VNA. Ha also said they used to contact FTW experts two times very month, but this has now become once every two months or even less, with consultation sought only in very complicated cases.

He said that with the availability of sophisticated equipment, his department can perform “single stage auricular reconstruction by pourous polyethylene frame using single incision endoscope-assisted for temporoparietal fascia harvest…”, in other words, ear reconstruction, one of the most difficult plastic surgery techniques.

“The Plastic and Aesthetic Surgery Centre of Viet-Duc University Hospital is one of a few centres in the world that can successfully carry out the technique”, he said, adding that the advantage of the method is that the patient only needs one surgery at a very early age (4-5 years) and can benefit from better aesthetic results than other methods.

Equipment support

Apart from providing corrective surgeries, the foundation has worked with its Vietnamese partners to identify medical equipment needed during the COVID-19 pandemic and facilitated the donation of 28 advanced monitors worth 308,000 GBP (530,000 USD) to the country.

“We identify truly game changing equipment. We don’t donate consumables (things used once and then thrown away). We have donated items like microscopes, ultrasound machines and endoscopy towers,” Kandel said.

Since the latest phase of the FTW programme was launched, more than 2 million GBP of medical equipment has been donated, including inTouch telemedicine to Hong Ngoc, Viet Duc, K (Cancer) and 108 Military Central hospitals as part of expanding national and international links and treatment capabilities.

FTW has collaborated with the Royal College of Surgeon of England in granting global accreditation to the Viet Duc University Hospital and 108 Military Central Hospital.

“It was important for the foundation that the approach be assessed by an outside body. The accreditation has given the hospitals a standing within the international medical community,” Kandel said.

Talking about future plans, she said the foundation is hoping that international travel resumes and that doctors will be able to travel freely once again.

“We want to resume taking doctors from Vietnam for fellowships to all our partner hospitals in the USA, Canada and the UK.” Kandel said the foundation also wants to restart sending missions to its partner hospitals in Vietnam, increase the telemedicine platforms internationally and finally continue to donate game-changing medical equipment.

For his part, Chinh, now a university researcher, is hoping to have one or two more surgeries to make eating and communicating easier.

“It is a test of my inner strength and destiny,” he said.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

As many as 229 outstanding students in the central province of Thua Thien-Hue received Vallet scholarships during a ceremony on October 29.

The total value of the scholarships is over 3.3 billion VND (143,930), with each valued from 11.5 – 30 million VND.

The Vallet Scholarship Fund was established in 2001 by Professor Odon Vallet from France’s Sorbonne University, through the Meeting Vietnam organisation. It has been the largest non-governmental scholarship fund in Vietnam over the past two decades.

The professor uses the annual interest from his inheritance to fund scholarships for students posting outstanding academic results in France, Benin, and Vietnam.

To date, more than 40,000 outstanding Vietnamese students and pupils have been presented with the Vallet scholarships worth over 200 billion VND (8.72 million USD). In Thua Thien-Hue alone, over 4,500 scholarships have been presented to local students.

Meanwhile, 50 poor students with good academic performances in the northern province of Hai Duong also received the “Sharing The Dream” scholarships, which is funded by Thailand’s SCG Group.

The total value of the scholarships is 260 million VND (11,340 USD). Each university student received 6 million VND, while school students got 4 million VND each.

Since 2007, Sharing The Dream scholarships have been presented to over 5,000 students in localities nationwide, including 100 from Hai Duong.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

National Assembly deputies are engaging in online debate on a draft plan on restructuring the economy for 2021-2025 on October 30, the last working day of the first phase held in the form of videoconference of the second session of the 15th legislature.

Presenting the draft plan on October 29, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung said the scheme aims at creating breakthrough changes in the growth model in the direction of raising the national economy’s productivity, quality, competitiveness, resources use efficiency, self-reliance and adaptability.

He noted that the final goal is to create an economy based on science-technology and innovation, with rapid, sustainable growth in harmony with culture, society, environment and national defence-security.

The draft scheme listed six groups of targets and specific indicators, with the addition of indicators on developing types of markets, restructuring economic space, and developing the digital economy and innovation.

In the afternoon October 30, the legislature will look into the draft national land use plan for 2021-2030 with a vision to 2050, and the draft five-year land use plan for 2021-2025.

The land use plans are designed with the goals of allocating land to sectors and localities in accordance with socio-economic development needs while ensuring national defence-security, environmental protection and climate change adaptation. The land allocation must also meet the demand for infrastructure development, industrialization and urbanization while protecting ecologies and maintaining 3.5 million hectares of rice fields and a stable forest coverage rate of 42-43 percent.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

The Vietnam Academy of Science and Technology, in coordination with the Ministry of Science and Technology, on October 29 inaugurated the International Centre for Physics (ICP) and the International Centre for Mathematical Research and Training (ICRTM).

The two centres were established under the auspices of UNESCO to contribute to the realisation of strategic goals on scientific-technological development and international commitments of the Government, and promote international cooperation in the related fields.

Their main activities include providing international training in physics and mathematics; conducting international level physics and mathematics studies; and advising policy makers, educators and the public in the fields of physics and mathematics.

Training activities at the two centres begin immediately this year, focusing on advanced talent training, postgraduate and postdoctoral training in physics and mathematics through scientific research programmes and projects. These programmes are available to citizens of Vietnam and regional countries, as well as some African countries.

The two centres will cooperate in research with domestic and international universities and institutes, particularly those in ASEAN countries, Asia-Pacific region and Africa. Cooperative activities include short-term exchange of experts and organization of conferences and seminars.

Speaking at the event, Deputy Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Hoang Giang said that UNESCO’s recognition and sponsorship of the two centres affirms Vietnam’s position on the world science map.

Through these two science centres, Vietnam wishes to contribute to the science of the ASEAN region and the world, said Deputy Minister Giang. He affirmed that the Ministry of Science and Technology will support and create necessary conditions for the two centres to operate effectively and follow the agreement with UNESCO.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan met with Vice President of the Portuguese parliament Edite Estrela, held talks with Foreign Minister Augusto Santos Silva and chaired a business dialogue forum on October 29, as part of her working trip to the European country.

During the talks with Minister Augusto Santos Silva, Vice President Xuan affirmed that Vietnam is pursuing a foreign policy of independence and diversification and multilateralization, under which it is deepening bilateral cooperation with important partners, including the European Union in which Portugal is a member.

The two sides took note with satisfaction the positive progress in Vietnam-Portugal relations in recent years, and agreed upon measures to further the bilateral cooperation in the time ahead.

They said the two countries should increase the exchange of visits at all levels, particularly at high-level, to create a momentum for bilateral ties.

Vice President Xuan conveyed an invitation to visit Vietnam from Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to his Portuguese counterpart Antonio Costa.

The sides stressed the need to study directions for bolstering cooperation in all aspects, especially economics, trade and investment. They agreed on the target of raising bilateral trade value from 471 million USD in 2020 to 1 billion USD in 1 billion USD.

The Vietnamese leader called on Portuguese businesses to increase their investment and business operation in Vietnam, especially in fields that the two countries can complement each other such as sea economy, maritime, renewable energy and tourism. She said Vietnam is willing to serve as a bridge connecting Portuguese firms with the Southeast Asian and Asia-Pacific markets.

Xuan asked Portugal to assist Vietnam in developing trade and investment ties with the EU, and urged the country to early verify the Vietnam-EU Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA) and help with the removal of the EC’s yellow card on Vietnamese seafood.

Minister Augusto Santos Silva affirmed that Vietnam is a priority partner of Portugal as well as the EU. He said there remains large room for the two countries to boost cooperation in trade and investment, and promised that Portugal will create favourable conditions for agencies and businesses of both sides to connect and expand markets. He also pledged to work for the early completion of procedures for the verification of the EVIPA.

The minister informed that Portugal has decided to grant Vietnam with 160,000 doses of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine through the Covax mechanism, and suggested that the two countries continue to work together in responding to challenges posed by the pandemic and in helping the Vietnamese community in Portugal stabilize their life.

The two sides also discussed international and regional issues of common concern, and pledged to coordinate on multilateral and regional forums as well as support each other at cooperation mechanisms such as the ASEAN-EU and the United Nations.

At the meeting the same day with Vice President of the Portuguese parliament Edite Estrela, Vice President Xuan took the occasion to thank the Portuguese parliament for its strong support for strengthening relations between the two countries and the comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and the EU.

She proposed that the two countries’ parliaments increase the exchange of delegations. She conveyed an invitation to visit Vietnam at an appropriate time from National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue to the President of the Portuguese parliament.

The two sides affirmed that cooperation between the two parliaments and countries will continue to be promoted in both bilateral and multilateral frameworks. They expressed support for maintaining peace and stability, respecting the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) in the region and the world, promoting dialogue and facilitating cooperation and development for common prosperity.

Addressing the Vietnamese-Portuguese business dialogue, Vice President Xuan briefed the business delegates on Vietnam’s socio-economic situation and the country’s development priorities such as high technology, innovation and digital economy. She affirmed that Vietnam will create all possible favourable conditions for Portuguese investors to operate long term and reap success in the country.

Portuguese business representatives showed interest in Vietnam’s orientation and strategy for development and integration, as well as possibilities for business cooperation.

The business dialogue was the last activity of Vice President Xuan in Portugal. She is scheduled to start an official visit to Greece on October 31

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh has assigned the Foreign Ministry to work with partners to speed up the recognition of “vaccine passports.”

The Government Office has just issued a document detailing the Deputy PM’s direction on “vaccine passports” and measures to facilitate the entry of foreign experts to serve economic development.

The Ministry of Public Health is assigned to take charge of issuing paper and electronic forms of Vietnam’s vaccine passport, to be completed before November 5.

The Ministries of Information and Communication, Public Security, and Public Health are tasked with developing an application and QR codes for vaccine passports in accordance with the Prime Minister’s instruction in Notice 242/TB-VPCP dated September 13, 2021.

Deputy PM Minh approved the policy on facilitating entry procedures for foreigners belonging to groups that are specified in the conclusions of meetings of permanent Government members on COVID-19 prevention and control; foreigners who travel to Vietnam to study the market, attend conferences and workshops or visit family members; and overseas Vietnamese and their family members. All those people should have certificates of COVID-19 vaccination or recovery from COVID-19.

For overseas Vietnamese, the regulations under Decree 82/2015/ND-CP on visa exemption continue to be applied.

The Health Ministry is tasked to take charge and cooperate with relevant agencies and localities to issue medical quarantine regulations for arrivals with “vaccine passports.”

Deputy PM Minh also approved in principle the resumption of regular commercial flights to and from countries/territories with high COVID-19 safety levels, with appropriate pandemic prevention measures to be taken.

The Ministry of Transport is to submit to the Prime Minister a plan on resuming regular international flights before November 5.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and four ministers will go before the National Assembly (NA) for question-and-answer sessions at the next phase of the 15th NA’s second session, according to NA General Secretary and Chairman of the NA Office Bui Van Cuong. Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and four ministers will go before the National Assembly (NA) for question-and-answer sessions at the next phase of the 15th NA’s second session, according to NA General Secretary and Chairman of the NA Office Bui Van Cuong.

Speaking to the media on the first phase of the NA’s second session which took place via videoconference from October 20-30, Cuong said that requirements in quality and progress have been met thanks to the careful preparation and the effective leadership of the Presidium.

In the second phase of the session, the NA will spend two days and a half on questioning Cabinet members. The Minister of Health will be asked about COVID-19 prevention and control activities and related issues. Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam as well as Ministers of Public Security, Planning and Investment, Information and Communications, Science and Technology, the Government Inspector General, the State Auditor General will also be called to explain related matters.

The Minister of Labour-Invalids and Social Affairs and relevant authorities will be questioned about the implementation of support packages to pandemic-hit groups, the reason why labourers leave HCM City and southern localities, and solutions to remove difficulties of the labour market and deal with unemployment.

Cuong said that questions will be put to the Minister of Planning and Investment on measures to speed up economic recovery and development in the new situation, as well as solutions to remove obstacles facing businesses, along with the plan on the middle-term public investment in the 2021-2025 period and 2021 and the disbursement on the capital.

At the same time, the Minister of Education and Training will field questions related to measures to ensure the quality of teaching and learning activities and the implementation of fundamental reforms of education and training amid COVID-19, among others.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh will appear before the NA to give further explanations if and when necessary, Cuong said.

Source: Vietnam News Agency

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on October 29 co-chaired the WEF’s Country Strategic Dialogue on Vietnam 2021 for the first time via videoconference at the invitation of WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab.

The following is the translation of his full remarks at the event.

“Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum,

Mr. Borge Brende, President of the World Economic Forum,

Presidents, CEOs, and business leaders,

Ladies and gentlemen,

I am pleased to join you all in the first ever Viet Nam – WEF Country Strategy Dialogue under the theme of “Public – Private Partnership – The Key Driver for Comprehensive Recovery and Sustainable, Resilient and Innovation-Driven Growth.”

On behalf of the Government of Viet Nam, and with my personal sentiment, I wish to extend to Professor Klaus Schwab, Mr. Borge Brende, and all distinguished delegates my warmest greetings and best wishes. I wish to thank Professor Klaus Schwab and the World Economic Forum for working closely with Viet Nam to organize our Dialogue today, and for supporting Viet Nam over the past years.

This Dialogue bears great significance, as it is convened at a time when the global economy is facing a myriad of risks, and the pandemic continues to evolve in a complex manner. This is truly a test for our mettle, innovation and responsiveness, including those of governments and businesses alike. It is also high time that all parties concerned stepped up public – private partnership to together overcome challenges, in the spirit of “burden-sharing”, “harmonized interests and shared risks”, and “win-win cooperation.”

Ladies and gentlemen,

While the path ahead remains arduous, we are fully confident in a brighter future. The 35-year journey of Doi Moi and international integration, and our experiences in undergoing numerous crises in the region and the world have provided Viet Nam with invaluable lessons. One of those is to transform “risks” into “opportunities.” And challenges should also be seen as a robust driver for reform and further development, thereby affirming our mettle and stature.

This time of hardship poses two major issues for us. First, how can we pursue socio-economic recovery and development while safely adapting to and effectively containing the pandemic? Second, how can we find opportunities amid countless hurdles to create fresh impetus for growth, and harness prevailing trends of the time for development? I do hope that our Dialogue today will provide us with fruitful inputs and recommendations in shaping directions and measures to foster comprehensive recovery and sustainable and inclusive development.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Over the past two years, with the concerted efforts of the entire political system and people, and the assistance from friends, partners and the business community at home and overseas, Viet Nam has managed to fundamentally overcome this period of trememdous hardships. We are gaining confidence in shifting to safely and flexibly adapting to novel circumstances, and effectively containing the pandemic. Initial successes as such enable us to resume production and supply chains, ensuring macroeconomic stability and major balances, and serve as a springboard for rapid and sustainable development in the future. We also remain steadfast to the whole-of-people approach, with the people and businesses serving as goals, subjects and actors in containing the pandemic and fostering socio-economic recovery.

Viet Nam has a highly open economy, with 17 FTAs spanning over 60 countries. We also have a robust market of 100 million people, and enjoy all favorable conditions, such as institutions, infrastructure, geographical location, and socio-political stability. In this connection, Viet Nam continues to assert itself as an attractive destination that offers numerous opportunities for businesses and investors. Viet Nam’s economy has increased 1.4 times in scale within five years, becoming the 4th largest economy in ASEAN, and ranking 37th worldwide. In infrastructure alone, Viet Nam has a great demand for investment between now and 2030, totaling up to 30 billion USD per annum.

The socio-economic situation in Viet Nam has steadily recovered, and witnessed encouraging progress by October, as the pandemic is fundamentally under control and the economy is gradually reopened. In the first 10 months of 2021, total registered FDI capital increased by 11.6%, and realized capital surpassed 15 billion USD. Export revenues saw an increase of 16.6% against the same period last year. In comparison with the number of newly established businesses in September, that of October went up by 111%, while registered capital recorded an increase of 74%. In particular, total demand experienced a robust recovery, and the total revenues from retail and consumer services increased by 18%. Average consumer price index in the past 10 months only saw an increase of 1.81%. These statistics show that the current hardships are just temporary, and that the Vietnamese economy, with its solid macroeconomic foundation and stable major balances, is still capable of offering vast potential, advantages, and drivers for future growth.

I am deeply touched by the sympathy and trust of the business community, and the pledge to continue to accompany Viet Nam, as reflected in recent meetings. I also highly appreciate the support and concerted efforts of the entire society and international community, including foreign investors, in Viet Nam’s endeavors to contain the pandemic and foster socio-economic recovery.

Ladies and gentlemen,

In the immediate terms, Viet Nam’s master plan to foster economic recovery and development includes the master plan to reopen the economy in tandem with containing COVID-19, and the plans to bolster healthcare capacity, particularly preventive and grassroots healthcare capacity, ensure social security and create jobs, assist businesses, cooperatives and proprietors in fostering recovery, develop infrastructure, and mobilize social resources for development. We are also making every effort to improve our institutions, cut down on administrative procedures, and combat corruption.

In the long run, our goal, vision, and aspiration are to strive towards a strong and prosperous Viet Nam. We aim to become a modern and industrialized country by 2030, and a high-income developed country by 2045. In this process, we reiterate our commitment and resolve to provide international businesses and investors with every favorable condition to contribute to and share the fruits of the Vietnamese economy, on the principle that “your success is also Viet Nam’s success.”

With a strong aspiration for development, we plan to focus on the following major policy orientations:

First, to focus on measures to revive supply chains and the flow of goods, and safely resume business and production operations in the new normal. As the pandemic has been fundamentally contained, industrial parks are gradually reopened. With every passing day, more factories are back on track, workers now can return to their assembly lines, and transportation is resumed.

Second, to support the business circle in stepping up their operations, and returning to normalcy. On macro-economic scale, the Government is flexibly harnessing monetary, credit, fiscal and social security policies. These four primary tools help mobilize all resources for the economy, and provide full-fledged support to enterprises and the people. Recently, Viet Nam also made tax and cost waiver and reduction for sectors affected by COVID-19, and resumed international flights to safe destinations. At the same time, we are finalizing new entry and vaccine passport procedures, and creating green lanes to best facilitate the entry of experts and investors.

Third, to actively carry out large-scale investment programs, particularly in critical infrastructure. We are actively promoting projects pertaining to inter-regional transportation infrastructure, green energy and infrastructure, and national digital infrastructure with rippling impacts. Such endeavors will provide fresh economic impetus. Apart from the pioneering role of public investment, we urge for new business and investment models, including public – private partnership, that encourage foreign and private investment in infrastructure.

Fourth, to better address difficulties facing businesses, including FDI enterprises, in Viet Nam. The Government has established a Special Working Group to address outstanding issues. Having considered the FDI sector as an important part of our economy, we pledge to protect the legitimate and lawful rights and interest of investors, and ensure the shared benefits of the State, investors and laborers. We have recently endorsed a special and preferential decision on investment pertaining to timeframe and conditions applied to large-scale projects, utilizing advanced technology and having close connection with Vietnamese businesses.

Fifth, ensuring synchronized and modern institutions and intensive integration are prerequisites, and constitute one of the three strategic breakthroughs for national development in the next 10 years. We are amending many important laws, including the Law on Public Investment, the Law on Investment, the Law on PPP Investment, and the Law on Business, in ways that strengthen delegation of authorities and post-check, and minimize business and investment procedures. To foster the development of key sectors in the digital age, Viet Nam is improving its legal framework on intellectual property and legal foundation for new business models, e-commerce, digital banking, and fintech.

Last but not least is human resources. To bring into full play the potential of the Vietnamese people, who constitutes Viet Nam’s most important resource, and serves both as the subject and highest goal of development, we have been stepping up capacity building, with a focus on the development of digital human resources and a skilled workforce to make the most of the shift in supply chains.

By the same token, we are also stepping up technological development, innovation, and digital transformation. We are also restructuring our economy, in tandem with robustly transforming our growth model and improving productivity, quality, efficiency, and self-reliance of our economy, in line with emerging global economic circumstances in the post-COVID-19 era.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The stability and robust development of the Vietnamese economy offer numerous opportunities for investors worldwide. I call on investors to cooperate in safely resuming production to fulfill orders and maintain supply chains. I also kindly ask that you work closely with us in seizing the opportunities ushered in by the FTAs that Viet Nam has signed, including high-quality FTAs with major partners.

The Government of Viet Nam will continue to provide every favorable condition for your investment in prioritized sectors with preferential benefits in Viet Nam, such as advanced technology, information technology, supporting industries, smart agriculture, environmental protection, renewable energy, and infrastructure projects in service of social security. We look forward to the assistance of FDI businesses in training a high-quality workforce, utilizing scientific advancements for progressive and effective governance, stepping up research and development, promoting innovation, and helping Viet Nam become a hub in regional and global value chains.

Ladies and gentlemen,

The Vietnamese Government stands ready to intensify dialogue and cooperation under public – private partnership, with a view to encouraging the engagement of businesses and the people. I do hope that such models as the WEF’s Public – Private Partnership for Sustainable Agriculture will be multiplied, particularly in other potential areas of cooperation. Let me take this opportunity to propose that we make the Viet Nam – WEF Country Strategy Dialogue a regular event between Vietnamese leaders and the WEF’s businesses and experts.

As you understand Viet Nam well enough, I do hope that you will always have a special affection for our country, and work closely with the Vietnamese Government and people to realize our shared aspirations and goals for development. In Vietnamese, we have a saying, “Fire tests gold, and adversity tests the brave.” And I hold a firm belief that together, we will realize our shared aspirations!

Now I wish to hear from you. And let me take this opportunity to wish you all good health and greater success. I look forward to seeing you in Viet Nam.

Thank you.”

Source: Vietnam News Agency