Sci-tech is key to reaching developed nation status by 2045: PM

Speaking in a "60 Minutes with the Prime Minister" dialogue with WEF Managing Director Stephan Mergenthaler at the 2025 Autumn Economic Forum on Nov. 26, Chinh said called for converting policy mechanisms into competitive advantages, building green and digital infrastructure, developing skilled workforce and smart governance, and above all pooling massive financial resources.

State resources will play a guiding and activating role, he said, while new mechanisms must leverage all social resources, especially public–private partnerships and both domestic and foreign capital.

Vietnam's VinMotion robot displayed at the SemiExpo 2025 exhibition. Photo by VnExpress/Trong Dat

Looking at ASEAN’s long-term vision for development in the global economy, the PM urged the bloc to preserve unity, deepen connectivity, leverage each member’s strengths, embrace sci-tech and innovation as core growth engines, fully uphold cultural diversity, and expand partnerships with other regions, while contributing to global peace, cooperation, and development.

Regarding Vietnam’s role in fostering global dialogue, he reaffirmed the country’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification, and multilateralisation; being a good friend, trustworthy partner of all countries, and a responsible member of international community for the sake of global peace, cooperation and development. He also welcomed the theme of the upcoming WEF Davos meeting.

On the youth’s future in the technology era, he pledged continued support through supportive mechanisms, education, startup and innovation programs, talent cultivation, risk protection, and global connectivity.

As the dialogue closed to warm applause, the Vietnamese leader hailed the two-day Autumn Economic Forum, themed "Green Transformation in the Digital Era" as a success, with more than 1,500 delegates, nearly 100 foreign delegations, 10 Fourth Industrial Revolution centers, and over 75 global sci-tech and innovation centers taking part.

HCM City was asked to swiftly issue a detailed action plan to deliver on the forum’s commitments and instructed other localities to craft appropriate green transition roadmaps tailored to their strengths, forming green linkages and economic corridors.

The business community, whom he described as a pioneer in development, must accelerate innovation, change business models, ramp up investment in research and development, and adopt new economic models. They must also bolster governance capacity, align with international green standards, and actively engage with the Government in policymaking.

To international partners and the WEF, he called for deeper, results-oriented cooperation, including support for Vietnam to host future forums, establish itself as a regional "green-digital laboratory", and gain access to concessional finance, advanced technology transfer, and technical assistance.