Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính speaks to young people at the event. — VNA/VNS Photo Dương Giang

HÀ NỘI — The youth play a critical role in Việt Nam’s transformation and development in the digital age, said Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính at a conference with young people on Tuesday.

Focusing on the role of Vietnamese youth in national digital transformation, the event was held to commemorate the 93rd anniversary of the Hồ Chí Minh Communist Youth Union.

Answering a young delegate’s questions on protection measures for data and cyber security, PM Chính said that the Government was perfecting legal frameworks on the matter and had assigned ministries and departments for troubleshooting, alongside awareness and capacity-building projects.

Regarding solutions to connect public services and the national database, he emphasised the importance of databases for digital transformation and artificial intelligence development.

In addition to the establishment of databases at public agencies, businesses, organisations and at the individual level, the Vietnamese Government had also urged the completion of databases on land, environment and activities related to people and businesses to facilitate database accessibility.

PM Chính stressed that as technology application increases, digital transformation could lead to a decrease in traditional labour demands.

Therefore, specific policies and measures to diversify the labour market and increase efforts were necessary, especially in improving digital skills, capacity and qualification among young people in rural areas.

Speaking to PM Chính and other government leaders, the young delegates said that cyberculture would be the core issue for youth in the digital era, suggesting that the legal frameworks and codes of conduct should be completed for not only young people but also public employees in the digital sphere.

Convenience for the people through technology would be one of the key goals of digital transformation, and the government needed to perfect platforms and establish feedback channels with the public for the national digital transformation process, they said.

Highlighting Vietnamese youth’s contribution to the country’s transformation and international integration, PM Chính said that this conference was a valuable opportunity for government leaders to engage in conversation with young people and listen to their opinions and recommendations.

He reiterated that to achieve the national goal of becoming a developed, high-income country by 2045, all resources were needed to accelerate new growth drivers, including digital transformation, development of a green economy, circular economy and sharing economy, as well as other emerging industries.

Việt Nam is no exception to global digital development trends, and the Party and State aim that the country will become a digital nation by 2030, with the digital economy accounting for 30 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP), according to the government leader.

In this growth process, PM Chính stressed that young people must be pioneers in increasing social digital literacy and capacity, recommending policies related to digital transformation and digitalisation, applying technology in administrative reforms, as well as in development research and innovation.

They must also have the aspiration of contribution, self-development, innovation and entrepreneurship, as well as international integration and collective growth, he added.

Speaking at the event, the PM also requested that ministries, departments and localities look into young delegates’ recommendations and facilitate youth engagement in national digital transformation through innovative experimental platforms and activities.

Quoting the speech of Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng at the 12th National Congress of Hồ Chí Minh Youth Union Communist for the 2022-27 tenure, PM Chính hoped that Vietnamese youth continue to pioneer in all aspects of national development and protection for the country’s prosperity. — VNS