Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Professor Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum (WEF) pose for a photo with students. Photo: Duong Giang/VNA

Schwab shared an overview of the forces shaping the world, with many more changing and complex factors, which are posing both challenges and opportunities to all countries, including Vietnam.

These factors include the transition from a stable global order to a multipolar, often conflict-ridden world; the transition from the industrial age to the smart era; and growing polarization in society.

The WEF head gave suggestions so that Vietnam can seize the opportunities ahead to create a prosperous, sustainable and inclusive future, through initiatives such as Center for fourth Industrial Revolution.

Joining in the talks with students, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh agreed with Schwab on an inclusive and comprehensive approach and his mention of the "smart era".

He emphasized that "smart" is not only in technology but also in the economy by improving labor productivity, gaining benefits according to one's labor, and in society, being smart is also reflected in fairness, bridging the gap between rich and poor, leaving no one behind.

PM Chinh said that to reach the "smart era", Vietnam needs to keep improving institutions, human resources and infrastructure for smart development, while the young generation will be the core force in Vietnam's smart era.