Kuala Lumpur (VNA) – Vietnam’s contributions and proposals align closely with the pressing economic issues that shape discussions at the 47th ASEAN Summit, including the push for deeper integration towards sustainability and the development of a digital-based economy, said Dr. Zokhri Idris, a senior international relations analyst at Universiti Malaya.
In an interview with the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) correspondent in Kuala Lumpur, Zokhri said Vietnam is increasingly seen as a strong potential driver within the ASEAN Economic Community (AEC) thanks to its competitive strength in manufacturing and production.
According to the expert, since joining the bloc, Vietnam has played an active role by providing both a workforce and economic zones that enable ASEAN enterprises to thrive. The country’s rapid economic growth, particularly its competitiveness in highly industrialised sectors such as textiles and manufacturing, has delivered significant value added to the region’s economic integration process.
A challenge to Vietnam now, according to the scholar, lies in how to ensure sustainable GDP growth while navigating tariffs from the US. Zokhri expressed his hope that through enhanced economic integration, supply chain cooperation between ASEAN and Vietnam could be further strengthened to create mutually beneficial outcomes for all parties.
He also highlighted that Vietnam is pursuing a number of strategic economic policies focused on high-tech development, investment attraction, clean energy transition, digital economy growth, education and high-quality human resources training. These strategies, he said, could add valuable momentum to the ASEAN Vision 2045, provided they are synchronised with the development pathways of other regional economies.
In agriculture, Vietnam has been actively promoting regional cooperation and emphasising technology transfer and application, he observed. The country’s readiness to adopt smart farming practices will play an essential role in ensuring ASEAN’s food security and mitigating the risks of future severe crises./.
VNA
