Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha is a speaker of the "Interplay of Food, Energy, and Water" discussion. (photo: VGP/Hai Minh)

Vietnam's cooperation with the WEF began in 1989. The WEF is an important forum that makes practical contributions to Vietnam's socio-economic development and global integration.

Vietnam-WEF: a close relationship

Vietnam attaches great importance to cooperation with the WEF, considering it an important dialogue mechanism to promote the national image, boost economic reform and development, and open up opportunities to attract foreign investment. Vietnam has participated in and contributed major ideas to the WEF over the last 30 years.

Vietnam's senior leaders attended the WEF's annual meetings in Davos and effectively coordinated with ASEAN in organizing WEF Forum conferences in the region. Vietnam and the WEF have expanded cooperation in agriculture, industry, commerce, infrastructure, and information technology.

Vietnam's active participation in the WEF has realized the external policies of multilateralism of the Party and State, said Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Minh Vu: “Vietnam has regularly participated in annual events of the WEF in Davos. Both sides have a long-term cooperation plan to co-organize activities, like the WEF-ASEAN Forum in 2018. The WEF has always highlighted Vietnam as a dynamic economy and hailed the Vietnamese government’s commitment to reform. Vietnam and the WEF have built a close relationship.”

A venue for Vietnam to share its vision with the international community

Despite global crises and challenges, the world community sees Vietnam as a bright spot with strong commitments and impressive results in energy and digital transformation for post-pandemic recovery and sustainable development.

WEF 2023 is a venue for Vietnam to share with the international community its good practices in global integration, socio-economic development, investment attraction, and trade promotion.

Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha gave opinions at a discussion of the Food Action Alliance entitled “Investment in Self-reliance” and a session on interplay of food-energy-water. This was a stepping stone to attract the attention of the international community as Vietnam will host the 4^th global conference on Sustainable Food System in April.

Mr. Ha co-chaired the Vietnam-WEF global business forum, focusing on green economy and innovation. He held bilateral meetings with leaders of international organizations, including WEF Executive Chairman Professor Klaus Schwab, UNDP Director General Achim Steiner, and World Bank Executive Director Axel van Trotsenburg.

Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Minh Vu said of the cooperation orientation between Vietnam and the WEF: “The WEF is an important partner to help Vietnam attract foreign investment to achieve its socio-economic development targets and other long-term goals and create new momentum for growth. The WEF will give access to the world’s leading businesses and investors.  Vietnam and the WEF are working on a regular cooperation program on policy consultancy. The Vietnamese government considers the WEF one of its leading partners in socio-economic development.”

During more than 30 years of cooperation with the WEF, Vietnam has always been an active and responsible member and a reliable partner. Vietnam's initiatives at the 2023 WEF meeting have not only contributed to the success of the event but have created momentum for more effective bilateral cooperation.