(VOVworld) - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has emphasized the importance of information and communication technology, explaining that ICT development is the easiest and quickest way for Vietnam to keep pace with the developed nations.

Addressing the Vietnam ICT Summit 2013 in Hanoi on Thursday, Dung pointed to the special attention the government devotes to building a national ICT infrastructure as a way to increase economic competitiveness and support education and training reforms. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung says: The government is asking the ministries, sectors, localities and enterprises to pay more attention to information technology considering it to be a foundation for the development of all economic sectors, every enterprise and the whole of society. We need to focus on enhancing ICT application in production, business and management to comprehensively increase the nation’s competitive edge. This is the surest way for Vietnam to keep pace with other countries”.

Dung underlined the need to accelerate the creation of a national ICT infrastructure, issuing national ICT standards, ensuring inter-connectivity capabilities, coordinating with national security, safety and confidentiality. The PM asked the ministries, sectors, and localities to develop the best conditions for ICT businesses to maintain their share of the local market while reaching out to the wider world. During the summit, the Prime Minister thanked former Japanese PM Yukio Hatoyama for attending the event which was held to mark the two countries celebration of the 40^th anniversary of diplomatic ties. He said that Vietnam hoped to receive further assistance from Japan to boost its ICT development.