VietNamNet Bridge – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung has affirmed Viet Nam's consistent policy of building a dynamic and competitive market economy in a speech at the 2013 World Economic Forum on East Asia in Myanmar yesterday, June 6.

Vietnam proactive in international integration

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung (second left) delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the World Economic Forum on East Asia in Myanmar yesterday.

In opening the event, themed "Courageous Transformation for Inclusion and Integration", held in the capital city, Nay Pyi Taw, Dung said Viet Nam had always actively integrated into the regional and global economy both in depth and on a wide scale.

He said that over the past two decades, it was this active integration and economic shift from a centralised to market economy, plus its timely policy adjustments, that had enabled Viet Nam to overcome all difficulties and challenges to record significant achievements.

In an era of globalisation, besides a nation's own efforts, developing countries such as Viet Nam needed the necessary and sufficient conditions of a peaceful, stable and co-operative international environment on the basis of respect for international law, free trade and investment through economic connectivity and effective co-operation among countries in handling the common challenges of the region and the world, so that they could fulfil the goals in development, poverty reduction and industrialisation, Dung said.

Therefore, he emphasised the special significance of the increasingly strong international integration process in East Asia and ASEAN, while underscoring the efforts to strengthen connectivity and economic links among ASEAN mainland countries or the Mekong region, including the establishment of trans-national economic corridors, which he said, was an indispensable part of the integration process.

Dung called on businesses to invest in socio-economic development projects in localities along the corridors, both for the benefit of themselves as well as the community and the entire region.

He said the Vietnamese Government was willing to talk with enterprises to continue improving its open, healthy and favourable business environment and ensuring the interests of all parties.

Dung also asked all countries along the corridors and partners to further foster their co-operation to tackle difficulties and obstacles promptly and step up the development of the corridors.

His participation at the forum was at the invitation of the host country's President Thein Sein and World Economic Forum Chairman Klaus Schwab.

The three-day event attracted the participation of over 900 delegates, who are policy makers and leaders of leading corporations and organisations inside and outside the region, such as the Lao Prime Minister, the UNDP Administrator and leaders from the OECD and ADB.

The event focused on promoting the comprehensive transformation of Myanmar, the regional integration process and measures to cope with regional and global challenges.

Meeting Myanmar President

Yesterday, PM Dung had a meeting with Myanmar President Thein Sein, during which he congratulated Myanmar on the successful organisation of the forum as well as its great achievements in political and social stabilisation, national development and international relationship expansion.

The leaders expressed their pleasure at the fine development of the two countries' traditional friendship and comprehensive co-operation while agreeing to enhance delegation and people-to-people exchanges.

They also affirmed to continue promoting current co-operation mechanisms such as the Viet Nam–Myanmar Joint Committee, and annual political consultation between the two Foreign Ministries. They agreed to soon establish a security dialogue mechanism at deputy ministerial level between Viet Nam's Ministry of Public Security and Myanmar's Ministry of Home Affairs. Besides, they pledged to boost the two countries' economic, trade and investment co-operation.

Dung and Thein Sein also reached an agreement on expanding co-operation in other potential fields like mineral exploitation, aviation and construction.

Viet Nam would assist Myanmar in developing agriculture and aquatic farming and processing while Myanmar would facilitate Viet Nam's licensed investment projects in the country, they said.

At the meeting, the two sides exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual concern and agreed to work closely at both regional and international forums.

The Vietnamese delegation left Nay Pyi Taw on the same day.

Source: VNS