(VOVWORLD) - The World Economic Forum on ASEAN (WEF ASEAN) 2018 closed in Hanoi on Thursday after 60 discussions on entrepreneurship and the 4th Industrial Revolution. The 3-day forum’s outcomes will contribute to implementing the ASEAN Vision 2025.
 A plenary session of WEF ASEAN 2018 (Photo: VNA) |
As the host of WEF ASEAN 2018, Vietnam focused discussions on the formulation of ideas and major directions for ASEAN’s development amid the 4th Industrial Revolution.
Most successful regional meeting of WEF
Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum said WEF ASEAN 2018 was the most successful regional meeting in 27 years. According to the WEF, nearly 8,000 news stories and articles on the WEF ASEAN 2018 were published on websites, 2,000 more than last year. 7 million people followed the event on social networks and posted 13,000 comments on Facebook. 90,000 views of the event on the WEF website were reported.
 Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc delivers a speech at WEF ASEAN 2018 (Photo: VNA) |
The top leaders of numerous countries and representatives of 1,000 leading enterprises attended the meeting. WEF ASEAN 2018 was described as a festival of ideas and analyses of major issues important to ASEAN countries’ development. Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc said: “WEF ASEAN was a success, a beautiful picture of effective cooperation between global economies and Vietnam and other ASEAN countries. The Forum included 60 discussions attended by thousands of people.”
Prospects of ASEAN
Via meetings and discussions, ASEAN wanted to prove itself a dynamic and rapidly developing region. A wide range of initiatives and solutions were proposed to meet challenges and take advantage of the 4th Industrial Revolution. ASEAN countries have realized the need to capitalize on their strengths and create momentum for innovation and growth amid rapid global changes. Kevin Sneader, Managing Partner of MC Kinsey, an American management consulting firm, is optimistic about ASEAN’s prospects. He said: “The economic optimism that remains for all the talk of trade conflict, all the challenges, one can hypothesize, strengthening dollars, etc… I do still sense from the conversations I’ve had and also just observing where we are that the underlying fundamentals of this part of the world remain solid. And therefore, while there may be turbulence in the near term, we should expect and can believe in a very positive future for ASEAN and beyond.”
WEF ASEAN 2018 took place in the context of a stronger ASEAN Community and impacts of the 4th Industrial Revolution. The success of the event will help member countries set a course toward sustainable development and achieve the goals of the ASEAN Vision 2025.