The two WEF plenary sessions focused on “discovery of emerging markets” and “The East Asian community and the role of ASEAN”.

According to Mr Hai, potential for the Vietnamese economy is visible, but to achieve success, the country has much to do such as developing infrastructure, training high-quality human resources and accelerating the reform of the business system and State administrative apparatus.

Speakers from Russia, Nigeria, Japan and the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) said that Vietnam is currently in a bright spot among the countries, which are likely to emerge in the near future. Recently, Vietnam has recorded great achievements in economic growth, trade and investment development in the region and has played an important role in major foreign companies’ strategies for global production distribution.

Participants said that political stability, a young population structure, the relatively high level of people’s knowledge create favourable conditions for Vietnam to strongly develop.

Earlier on January 24, Mr Hai met with WEF President Klaus Schwab who spoke highly of Vietnam’s economic development and encouraged the country to actively engage in WEF activities.

Deputy PM Hai affirmed that Vietnam is willing to cooperate with the WEF to successfully organise the East Asian WEF Meeting in 2009 as well as other activities of the WEF in the region and in Davos.