Vietnam calls for US cooperation in building smart cities

Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan has called for US businesses’ engagement in providing technology and cooperating in building criteria for smart cities as well as local planning.

At a meeting in Hanoi on March 21 with US Ambassador to Vietnam Ted Osius, the Minister noted that Vietnam is to develop five smart cities in the future.

He proposed that the two sides increase policy dialogues to strengthen mutual understanding in vision, orientations and the implementation of specific cooperation activities in information and communication technology.

Vietnam and the US should coordinate in holding conferences and seminars to shar experience in managing and developing new service forms and business models in the digital economy, while building effective cooperation mechanisms in ensuring cyber security, he suggested.

Minister Tuan noted that Vietnam and the US have become comprehensive partnership since 2013. Last year, two-way trade reached over 40 billion USD, with Vietnam’s exports of over 33 billion USD and import value of about 8 billion USD.

In the field of information and communication technology, most of major giants of the US have invested in Vietnam, including Intel, Microsoft, IBM, Oracle, Cisco, Motorola and Qualcomm, while social networks such as Facebook and Google have also succeeded in the market.

At the meeting, the two sides gave frank discussion on such issues as the management of Internet, control of websites with harmful contents and the settlement of violations of intelligence property rights.

Minister Tuan said that in order to realise and guide the implementation of the Law on Intellectual Property Rights, the ministry has enhanced its responsibility in management of intellectual property right as well as relevant rights under the ministry’s authority.

The ministry has also collaborated with ministries, sectors and localities as well as organisations to roll out synchronised measures to implement the law in the field of publishing, especially in inspection and handling of violations.

Ambassador Ted Osius said that the US side has been studying infrastructure systems in a number of cities and provinces of Vietnam for affiliation in building smart cities.

In the coming time, the US will work with Hai Phong, Quang Ninh and Ho Chi Minh City on the work, while coordinating with the Vietnam Post and Telecommunication to organise a conference to develop specific projects in the field.-VNA