Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc (r) receives President of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Borge Brende in Hà Nội yesterday.– VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc has expressed his hope that President of the World Economic Forum (WEF) Borge Brende will create favourable conditions for Việt Nam to promote its image and role as the host of the WEF-ASEAN 2018 slated for September 11-13.

During a reception in Hà Nội yesterday for the WEF president, PM Phúc thanked Brende for his contributions to Việt Nam-Norway ties when he was Norwegian foreign minister.

Hailing the WEF-ASEAN 2018’s theme “ASEAN 4.0: Entrepreneurship and Fourth Industrial Revolution”, the PM suggested that the WEF should build an agenda linked with ASEAN’s 2018 theme of “Resilient and Innovative”. In order to ensure the success of the WEF-ASEAN 2018, the Vietnamese leader underscored the need to invite high-ranking leaders to the event.

He asked the WEF to help Vietnamese firms at the WEF-ASEAN 2018 to expand their networks with the world’s leading corporations and adopt new business ideas and trends.

Speaking highly of the partnership between the WEF and Việt Nam, Brende said the WEF- ASEAN 2018 had attracted the attention of countries and major corporations worldwide, proving Việt Nam and ASEAN’s increasing role and attractiveness on the global stage.

He told his host that state and government leaders of seven countries had confirmed their attendance at the WEF-ASEAN 2018, adding that the organising board would invite more chairmen and chief executive officers of major corporations.

Brende predicted that Vietnamese firms would be able to expand their reach to the world at the event.

Receiving the WEF president the same day, Deputy Prime Minister cum Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh asked the WEF to continue to cooperate with Việt Nam to tap opportunities arising from the fourth industrial revolution.

The same day, the two officials co-chaired a dialogue with major Vietnamese firms. Speaking at the event, Minh said the WEF-ASEAN 2018 was one of the most important external activities Vietnam was hosting this year, so it would work closely with the WEF to thoroughly prepare for the event.

He also reiterated the Vietnamese Government’s consistent policy of improving the business climate to provide all possible support for enterprises.

Describing Việt Nam as one of the fastest-growing and dynamic economies in Asia-Pacific, Minh said Việt Nam had been chosen by the WEF as the first regional country to sign a public-private partnership (PPP) deal, which proved how much the WEF appreciated ties with the nation.

Brende said Việt Nam’s successful organisation of the WEF-ASEAN 2018 would raise its role and stature in the bloc, and affirmed its active contributions to issues of mutual concern in ASEAN and the region. — VNS