The PM welcomed Indonesia’s initiative to host the meeting, while stressing thatthe event is an opportunity for ASEAN leaders and international organisationsto share views and discuss regional and global joint actions, as well as cooperationfor promoting inclusive, sustainable, creative growth with a focus oneffectively implementing UN Sustainable Development Goals 2030.
He said the success of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on ASEAN (WEF ASEAN 2018)recently held in Vietnam showed that ASEAN has advantages and stands ready toreceive and make full use of the outcomes from the Fourth IndustrialRevolution.
He suggested the UN, the IMF and the WB coordinate with ASEAN and Vietnam toaccelerate the implementation of outcomes from the WEF ASEAN, especially thebusiness environment harmony mechanism, the national incubator connectivityframework, and connectivity on education systems and building of life-longlearning systems in ASEAN countries.
For Vietnam, PM Phuc held that the country is building a constructivegovernment to serve people and enterprises, while strengthening cooperation andpromoting the implementation of plans on ASEAN Community 2025.
On this basis, he emphasised the joint implementation of recommendations,especially the five priority groups in the report between ASEAN CommunityVision 2025 and the 2030 UN Agenda on Sustainable Development.
The PM also highly appreciated support and cooperation from the IMF and the WBfor ASEAN in building the Community, as well as assistance from ASEAN membercountries in sustainable development, macroeconomic monitoring, policyconsulting, training and technical assistance in different areas.
Facing unpredictable global economic developments, PM Phuc proposed the IMF andthe WB cooperate with and give advice to ASEAN countries in building a regionalmacroeconomic risk warning mechanism so as to improve self-reliance capacityand adaptation of the ASEAN economy.
They were also urged to continue to support and closely work with the bloc ininfrastructure development, early disaster warning and climate change response,narrowing development gaps, especially in digital gap, technology research andapplication, institutional reform and high-quality human resources training inorder to grasp opportunities from the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
The PM expressed his belief that with existing cooperation and determination ofthe sides, the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Agenda 2030 will besuccessfully implemented in Southeast Asia and the world.
The ASEAN Leaders’ Gathering, which took place on the sidelines of the annualmeetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB), alsosaw the United Nations Secretary General, ASEAN Secretary General and IMF ManagingDirector and WB President.
On October 12, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc is scheduled to attend theopening session of the IMF-WB annual meeting as a special guest of the host, andto hold talks with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.-VNA