 PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab in Davos on January 16. (Photo: VNA) |
Meeting with Prof. Klaus Schwab, founder and Executive Chairman of the WEF, PM Chinh highlighted that WEF-54, themed “Rebuilding Trust”, is significant in the current context as it will contribute to the consolidation of trust and international solidarity while inspiring countries worldwide to join hands for the development of humankind.
He thanked Prof. Schwab for his close and effective cooperation with Vietnam over the past years, especially amidst global economic headwinds, and appreciated the WEF’s support for Vietnam in policy consultation and building and attraction of high-quality foreign investment.
Prof. Schwab expressed his delight at PM Chinh’s attendance at the WEF meeting, stressing the Vietnamese leader laid out important solutions to handling challenges and rebuilding the global trust.
Vietnam, with a multitude of startups and radical reforms in hi-tech sectors, manufacturing and green development, will become one of the 20 largest economies in the world soon, he said.
On the occasion, PM Chinh and the WEF founder witnessed the signing of several cooperation deals, including an agreement on the establishment of the center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution between Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Phan Van Mai and WEF Managing Director Jeremy Jurgens, and a Letter of Intention on the participation in the closing the skills gap network initiative between Deputy Minister of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs Le Van Thanh and WEF Managing Director Saadia Zahidi.
The documents will lay a firm foundation to bolster the Vietnam-WEF cooperation in a deeper way with practical results, helping Vietnam access resources for digital transformation and high-quality human resources development to promote new growth engines, lure more investment and better the national competitive capacity.
 PM Pham Minh Chinh and his RoK counterpart Han Duck-soo meet in Davos on January 16. (Photo: VNA) |
At the meeting with PM of the Republic of Korea (RoK) Han Duck-soo, the two sides highly valued their governments’ close cooperation in effectively implementing the Vietnam-RoK comprehensive strategic partnership and the agreements reached between senior leaders of the two countries.
PM Han emphasized that the people and Government of the RoK consider Vietnam an extremely close friend, and that the two countries boast special and increasingly close-knit relations that contribute to regional and global peace and stability.
The two PMs agreed to continue to promote the bilateral relations in a practical, effective, and comprehensive manner on the basis of political trust between Vietnamese and RoK leaders as well as the close ties between businesses, localities, and people of the two countries.
PM Chinh called on the RoK to create more optimum conditions for strong products of Vietnam to enter its market, encourage Korean firms to expand investment in the Southeast Asian nation, actively build research and development (R&D) centers, and help Vietnam develop entertainment, cultural, and fashion industries.
Both leaders pledged their countries’ continuation of close coordination and mutual support at regional and international forums.
At another meeting, PM Chinh and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Oleksandrovych Zelensky underlined the importance they attach to the two countries’ traditional friendship, partnership, and comprehensive cooperation.
To maintain momentum for the bilateral ties in the current context, they agreed to coordinate to tackle obstacles and seek measures for restoring trade in the goods Vietnam and Ukraine are strong at.
PM Chinh affirmed Vietnam’s consistent viewpoint that all disputes must be resolved by peaceful means and in line with the fundamental principles of international law and the UN Charter.
 PM Pham Minh Chinh meets with his Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo in Davos on January 16. (Photo: VNA) |
Meeting with his Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo, PM Chinh emphasized that Vietnam always considers Belgium an important partner in the European Union (EU), and wishes to intensify the two countries' relations.
The PMs agreed to continue increasing high-level delegation exchanges. They also committed to strengthening locality-to-locality cooperation and effectively implementing existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms.
They called on relevant agencies and businesses of both countries to continue implementing fully and effectively the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).
Chinh proposed that Belgium soon complete its ratification of the EU-Vietnam Investment Protection Agreement (EVIPA), expand cooperation with Vietnam in digital transformation, renewable energy, green transition and circular economy, and foster cultural exchange and tourism.
In terms of the strategic partnership in agriculture, PM Chinh suggested Belgium support Vietnam in developing circular economy models in agriculture and smart agriculture.
The Belgian PM affirmed the EVFTA is a crucial driver for expanding economic and trade relations between the two countries, pledging that his country will expeditiously ratify the EVIPA.
Both sides showed their commitment to continuing to closely coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums and international organizations, contributing to ensuring peace, security, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.