(Photo: ictnews.vn)

Themed “Digital for Good”, the meeting, the first of its kind, will discuss the Internet’s contribution to an open, sustainable and innovative society.

Sessions during the 2-day forum range from E-governance and Open Data to Smart Cities and Social Media.

Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Pereric Hogberg said: “Access to the Internet means greater chances for development in all senses of the terms. Internet freedom means smart economics. Internet is now the central infrastructure of the world and is the core of most human activities.”

Pham Hong Hai, Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, elaborated: “Over the past 20 years, Vietnam has had more than 50 million Internet users, accounting for 54% of the population and higher than the average global rate. Vietnam is among the countries and territories with the highest number of Internet users in Asia. We are trying to boost the development of IT and the digital industry, and apply added values on the Internet to maximize benefits for people and businesses.”

To mark the occasion, the Swedish Embassy in Hanoi and Save the Children in Vietnam launched the NetSmart handbook, a manual for parents to improve skills to protect their children from online abuse risks.