Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc particpated in activities on the sidelines of the 47th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Davos city, Switzerland on January 18. 

During a meeting with his Austrian counterpart Christian Kern, Phuc asked Austria to recognise Vietnam as a market economy, push forward the European Union (EU)’s approval of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement, and back Vietnam’s bid for non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021. 

The two PMs agreed to launch celebrations for the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties and convene a meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee on Economic and Trade Cooperation. 

In a working session with WEF President Klaus Schwab, the Vietnamese leader sought the WEF’s support to connect Vietnam with leading corporations and experts, and consultations on policies on national competitiveness and high-tech agriculture. He also proposed the WEF continue to hold the WEF Mekong Conference. 

Praising Vietnam’s development potential, Schwab wished to enhance cooperation with the country, especially in the form of public-private partnerships (PPP). 

Later, both sides witnessed the signing of a PPP agreement on economic development between Vietnam and the WEF, under which, the latter will help connect Vietnam with its top businesses, provide Vietnam with policy consultation on economic restructuring, high-tech agriculture, national competitiveness and climate change, and receive Vietnamese cadres as apprentices at WEF units. 

Talking with President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Tahehiko Nakao, PM Phuc asked the lender to assist Vietnam in transport infrastructure upgrades, energy, administrative procedure simplification, and trade and investment facilitation in the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS). 

He invited the ADB President and leaders to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum High-Level Week in the central city of Da Nang this November and related meetings in Vietnam. 

Nakao pledged to extend the provision of preferential credit for Vietnam until 2019 and help the country launch projects within the framework of GMS cooperation. 

The two sides vowed to step up projects in infrastructure, climate change response, economic restructuring and poverty reduction and work with GMS member states to prepare for the sixth GMS Summit in Vietnam. 

In a conversation with President of Microsoft Corporation Bradford Smith, Phuc urged Microsoft to continue doing business in Vietnam, and invited him to attend the APEC Business Summit this November in Da Nang. 

Microsoft wants to intensify ties with Vietnam in network security, human resources training and software industry, Smith said. 

WEF Davos 2017 focuses on promoting global economic growth, embracing inclusive growth, measures to take advantage of the fourth on-going industrial revolution, and shaping global cooperation orientations. 

The event gathers more than 3,000 participants, including those from governments, international and non-governmental organisations, along with entrepreneurs, scholars, and social activists. 

Established in 1971, the WEF is an independent international organisation committed to improving the state of the world by linking businesses, politicians, academics and other leaders of society.

VNA