Viet Nam and Australia takes over the role as co-chairs of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD)’s Southeast Asia Regional Program (SEARP) for 2022-2025 phase, Seoul, the Republic of Korea, February 9, 2022- Photo: VNA

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son suggested the OECD continue assistance and provide policy consultations to ASEAN and regional countries in digital transformation.

He asked the OECD and its members to increase support for ASEAN in launching the ASEAN Comprehensive Recovery Framework, the ASEAN Industry 4.0 Strategy, the ASEAN Digital Master plan 2025 and other action programs related to digital transformation. 

The Vietnamese diplomat stressed the need to ensure all the people to enjoy benefits from digitalization and get access to digital technologies, focusing on training human resource, supporting micro-, small and medium-sized enterprises in digital transformation.

He recommended the OECD strengthen collaboration and assistance for ASEAN to develop a low-carbon economy and realize commitments at the 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP26), heading to a greener and more sustainable future.

Bui also anticipated that the OECD and its members promote coordination with Viet Nam in developing digital economy, implementing the National Programme on Digital Transformation to 2030 and reaching the target of digital economy contributing to 20 percent of the GDP in 2025 and 30 percent in 2030.

On the sidelines of the conference, the Vietnamese FM met OECD Secretary General Mathias Cormann and State Secretary and Acting Minister for Development Cooperation of Slovenia Stanislav Rascan

The second Ministerial Conference of the SEARP attracted the participation of ministers and heads of delegations from 38 OECD member economies and ASEAN member countries, the OECD Secretary General, the ASEAN Secretary General and leaders from international organizations.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) on cooperation across 31 areas was inked by the OECD Secretary General and the ASEAN Secretary General. The MoU creates an important framework for upgrading the partnership between the two organizations./.