The 19th ASEAN Telecommunications and Information Technology Ministers Meeting and Related Meetings opened in Vientiane, Laos, on October 24, with Deputy Minister of Information and Communications Nguyen Thanh Hung in attendance.

The event is running with the theme of “Smart connecting for ASEAN digital transformation”. 

Some of senior officials participating in the event include Laotian Deputy Prime Minister Sonesay Siphandone and Secretary General of ASEAN Lim Jock Hoi.

The pair are joined by the telecommunications and information technology leaders of ASEAN member states, in addition to those from China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, the United States, the European Commission (EC), and the International Telecommunication Union (ITU).

This annual ministerial-level meeting held within the ASEAN region is designed to step up co-operation in telecommunications and information technology among member nations and ASEAN partners.

Throughout the two-day event, ASEAN leaders will review the implementation of information and communication technology over the past year, and have discussions relating to the implementation of the master plan for the year ahead.

Aside from intra-regional meetings, the event also hosts meetings between ASEAN member countries, China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, India, the US, the EC, and the ITU.

These meetings will largely involve discussions on co-operation programmes in 2020, such as developing human resources and improving the capacity to address cybersecurity risks.

In his speech, Laotian Deputy PM Siphandone noted that information technology and digital transformation is a driving force when it comes to the socio-economic development of ASEAN member states.

He urged ASEAN members to work closely when dealing with the challenges that emerge from Industry 4.0.

During the meeting, Deputy Minister Hung is set to hold working sessions with ASEAN members and the ITU to discuss further co-operation in these fields.