Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his Lao counterpart Sonexay Siphandone co-chair a business roundtable in Hanoi on April 23, 2024.

Mr. Chinh stressed the importance of equal access to digital transformation and digital economy on the principle of "harmonizing benefits and sharing risks"; ensuring transparency, safety, inclusiveness, and sustainability; strongly promoting ASEAN's self-reliance and autonomy in digital transformation, based on specific factors, potential and advantages of each country; and soon completing the ASEAN Digital Economy Framework Agreement.

He suggested promoting a global, all-people, and comprehensive approach in ASEAN's digital economic development; and focusing on solving common and global problems that affect the entire population such as pressure on labor restructuring, cybersecurity, cybercrime, and the downside of artificial intelligence (AI).

Lao PM Sonexay Siphandone emphasized the need for closer cooperation between businesses and private sectors with governments of countries and between countries to make the most of the benefits and overcoming the challenges brought about by digital technology.

At the roundtable, participants exchanged views on opportunities and challenges in digital economic collaboration in ASEAN, proposed measures to boost cooperation between the bloc and its partners in this field, and recommended the formation of an ASEAN digital economic ecosystem.

They also discussed the application of AI in corporate governance, digital transformation in the information sector, cooperation in building high-quality digital human resources, and how to improve the investment environment to attract high-tech investment.