PM Pham Minh Chinh meets with leaders of countries, int’l organisations on WEF-54: PM Pham Minh Chinh (R) meets with WEF Founder and Executive Chairman Klaus Schwab in Davos on January 16, 2024. (Photo: VNA)

Meeting with Prof. Klaus Schwab, founder and Executive Chairman of the WEF, Prime Minister 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 as well as attraction of high-quality foreign investment.

Prof. Schwab, for his part, 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.

Prime Minister Chinh invited Prof. Schwab and other WEF leaders to visit Vietnam, adding Vietnam stands ready to work with the WEF to organise mid-term conferences in the country, strengthen connectivity and promote the role of the WEF in the region.

On the occasion, Prime Minister Chinh and the WEF founder witnessed the signing of several cooperation deals, including an agreement on the establishment of the centre 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.

At the meeting with Prime Minister 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 Pham Minh Chinh meets with leaders of countries, int’l organisations on WEF-54 occasion: PM Pham Minh Chinh and his RoK counterpart Han Duck-soo meet in Davos on January 16, 2024. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister Han emphasised that the people and Government of the RoK always think about Vietnam as 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 Prime Ministers agreed to continue promoting the bilateral relations in a practical, effective, and comprehensive manner on the basis of the political trust between Vietnamese and RoK leaders as well as the close ties between businesses, localities, and people of the two countries.

Vietnam and the RoK will step up practical and mutually-beneficial cooperation, with a focus on making strong progress in economic links, they said, considering cultural and people-to-people exchanges as a solid foundation for the bilateral relations to become stronger and expand in multiple fields.

Prime Minister 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) centres, 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.

Facing escalating tensions in many regions, they agreed to keep supporting the respect for the principles of international law and the United Nations Charter, including not using or threatening to use force, peacefully resolving all disputes, and ensuring peace, stability, along with security, safety, and freedom of navigation in all seas, including the East Sea.

On this occasion, Prime Minister Han invited his Vietnamese counterpart to pay a visit to the RoK.

At another meeting, Prime Minister 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.

Prime Minister 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, including respecting the independence, sovereignty, and territorial integrity of countries, and not using or threatening to use force.

Vietnam supports the international community’s efforts to create conditions for the parties concerned to hold negotiations and promote humanitarian assistance and relief for people, he stated.

President Zelensky spoke highly of Vietnam’s stance and appreciated the Vietnamese Government and people’s humanitarian aid for Ukraine.

Prime Minister Chinh thanked Ukraine for helping to ensure safety for and evacuate Vietnamese citizens from the country, expressing his hope that the local administration will continue helping guarantee life and property safety for Vietnamese people who are still living and working in Ukraine.

Meeting with his Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo, Prime Minister Chinh emphasised that Vietnam always considers Belgium an important partner in the European Union (EU), and wishes to intensify the two countries' relations.

For his part, Prime Minister De Croo noted with joy that the bilateral relations flourished in 2023.

PM Pham Minh Chinh meets with leaders of countries, int’l organisations on WEF-54 occasion: PM Pham Minh Chinh meets with his Belgian counterpart Alexander De Croo in Davos on January 16, 2024. (Photo: VNA)

The Prime Ministers agreed to continue increasing high-level delegation exchanges. They also committed to strengthening locality-to-locality cooperation and effectively implementing existing bilateral cooperation mechanisms.

Regarding economic and trade connections, the Prime Ministers called on relevant agencies and businesses of both countries to continue implementing fully and effectively the EU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA).

Prime Minister 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 Prime Minister 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 organisations, contributing to ensuring peace, security, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.

Discussing the East Sea issue, Prime Minister Chinh asked Belgium to support the stance of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He emphasised the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; and the settlement of disputes by peaceful measures in accordance with international law, especially the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).