Vietnam is ready to share experiences in developing institutions and digital infrastructure

On the afternoon of January 14, within the framework of the 6th ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Conference (ADGMIN 6), Minister of Science and Technology Nguyen Manh Hung received and worked with Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill, Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations and Special Envoy for Technology. The two sides exchanged visions on digital cooperation in the context of digital technology, especially artificial intelligence (AI), increasingly impacting the world.

At the meeting, Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill said that the digital gap is increasing. About 50% of countries, equivalent to 90 countries in the world, are left behind in the field of artificial intelligence. Many countries have very limited computing capacity, causing the digital gap to continue to widen. According to the Deputy Secretary General of the United Nations, this is a global challenge, requiring a spirit of mutual support and help between countries.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said that Vietnam belongs to the group of 15 most populous countries in the world, ranks 32nd in economic scale, and is well aware of “its responsibility to the world”. Vietnam is ready to share experiences in developing digital institutions and digital infrastructure with other countries, through the United Nations, such as successful models of digital transformation, AI application, and philosophy of AI development.

According to the Minister, Vietnam has taken fundamental institutional steps. The Vietnamese National Assembly has passed the Law on Artificial Intelligence, which defines AI as intellectual infrastructure and legislates this content. After becoming the fourth country in the world to have a Law on AI, the Law on Digital Transformation was also promulgated, marking Vietnam as the first country to have a law on this content.

Sharing with Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung proposed that Vietnam is ready to become a place to test new applications and technologies, based on the United Nations initiative. If successful, these models could be widely shared globally.

The two sides also spent time discussing initiatives such as the Universal DPI Safeguards Framework and the Global Digital Compact developed by the United Nations. In addition, sharing with Deputy Secretary General Amandeep Singh Gill, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung said that Vietnam has many scientists and businesses good at AI and is ready to join the United Nations AI Technology Council.

In response, Mr. Amandeep Singh Gill highly appreciated the proposal for a place to test Vietnam’s digital initiatives, saying this is a “strong idea” and in line with the United Nations’ orientation.

He said the United Nations is ready to coordinate with Vietnam to connect global lessons, promote the interoperability of DPI systems such as digital identification, electronic payment, data exchange, as well as ensure inclusive principles, leaving no one behind in the digital transformation process.

The United Nations Deputy Secretary General commented that Vietnam’s experience in digital transformation and digital economic development is “extremely valuable” and can provide reference value for many developing countries.