(VOVworld) - Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung is among other 450 politicians and leaders of major economic groups and international organizations attending the World Economic Forum on East Asia in Myanmar. As one of the most prestigious annual forums, WEF on East Asia is a chance for Vietnam to coordinate with other countries in the region to promote initiatives and cooperation mechanisms to improve the performance of the World Economic Forum as well as boost Vietnam’s relations with WEF members.

The three-day forum, entitled “Courageous Transformation for Inclusion and Integration” takes place amidst slow global economic recovery resilience while East Asia maintains a relatively high growth of 7.8% this year. East Asia is becoming a more influential body actively participating in international cooperation mechanisms. The region’s global role is reflected in its member countries’ participation in the UN, the Group of 20 leading economies and the World Trade Organization. Particularly, with the presence of its 4 members at G20, East Asia is capable of contributing remarkably to the newly created, effective and more democratic structure of global governance.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung among other delegates at the 2012 World Economic Forum on East Asia (WEF) in Bangkok (Photo: Nhat Bac)

This is the first time WEF on East Asia is being held in the strategically positioned Myanmar, a country that is accelerating national reform and will hold the ASEAN Presidency in 2014. With the participation of 450 politicians, leaders of major economic groups and international organizations, the event demonstrates the interests politicians and businesses have for Myanmar and strengthens cooperation within AEAN in particular and East Asia in general.

In recent years, Vietnam has actively participated in the World Economic Forum. Vietnam successfully held the World Economic Forum on East Asia in Ho Chi Minh city in 2011. Under the theme “Asia’s emerging role in global development”, 20 main sessions were held covering Asia’s increasing role, global risks, Asia’s green growth roadmaps and Competitiveness. The conference was praised by senior leaders in the region, international organizations and international business community. In his speech at last year’s event in Thailand, Prime Minister Dung said that Vietnam would work with other countries in the region to promote cooperation for bolstering security and peace in the region. They would actively participate in dialogues and policy consultations and also put forward proposals to improve the performance of the World Economic Forum. Prime Minister Dung will also deliver a speech at the plenary opening session of the 2013 World Economic Forum on East Asia focusing on issues emerging from regional integration including regional connectivity, cooperation in the East-West Economic Corridor and experience sharing in socio economic development, macro-economic stabilization, economic restructuring and attracting foreign investment. In the face of slow recovery of the global economy, investors tend to look for stable and potential markets. Through WEF, Vietnam aims to promote its image as a dynamic country, facilitate Vietnamese enterprises to expand trade relations, and strengthen policy consultation between the Government, Vietnamese and foreign enterprises. In addition, WEF on East Asia 2013 is also a chance fro Vietnam to increase investment in Myanmar, a potential market with 60 million consumers and a young workforce. So far, Vietnam has several investment projects in Myanmar, but most notably is a 300 million USD trade center project funded by Hoang Anh Gia Lai. Viettel Group is also launching its services in this market. Prime Minister Dung’s presence reaffirms Vietnam’s policy of active international integration to raise its prestige in the region. Dung’s participation at the event will promote cooperation between Vietnam and the World Economic Forum and at the same time tighten the traditional bonds of friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Myanmar.

Anh Huyen