Under the theme of the rising role of Asia in global development, the forum will take place from June 6-7 in the city, gathering around 450 participants, mostly government leaders, representatives of international organisations, world business executives, scholars, international experts and the media.

“The forum will help create a panorama of the region’s economic prospects and provide a scientific basis for socio-economic policy making in the future,” said Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Chairman Le Hoang Quan.

The event includes 20 working sessions, including five plenary meetings and over 10 bilateral discussions and several other talks. There will be ten sideline events and activities taking place before and during the forum.

Joining the city authorities to welcome Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Lao PM Bouasone Bouphavanh and Myanmar’s PM Thein Sein were government leaders, including Deputy PM and Minister of Foreign Affairs Pham Gia Khiem and Deputy PM Hoang Trung Hai.

*** On the sidelines of the World Economic Forum (WEF) on East Asia 2010, a seminar entitled “Enhancing Vietnam’s Competitiveness for Sustainable Development” was held in Ho Chi Minh City on June 5. Deputy Prime Minister Hoang Trung Hai attended the event.   

According to the Deputy PM, the Vietnamese government is urgently implementing a series of solutions to create a foundation for rapid and sustainable growth in the post-crisis period and the following years, which include strengthening the country’s competitiveness at both macro and micro levels.

The government will announce the Vietnam Competitiveness Report 2009-2010, and commit itself to regular reviews and updates in this field to timely adjust its policies, he added.

Participants at the seminar, including representatives of international organisations, local and foreign corporations, shared their latest assessments on Vietnam’s competitiveness and discussed measures to improve its position and build a sustainable development model for the nation.

WEF Managing Director Robert Greenhill spoke highly of Vietnam’s great strides in economic development, education and poverty reduction over the past years.

In 2010, Vietnam jumped 18 places to the 71^st among 125 global economies in trade facilitation, reflecting the fact that the country has delivered on its commitments to the World Trade Organisation on opening up its market to goods and services, he said.

According to Dr. Christian H.M Ketels, special advisor of the Asia Competitiveness Institute (ACI), Vietnam should take a more strategic approach to building and developing its assets and capacity in order to find its own place in the global economy.

The seminar was jointly organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI), the ACI and the Global Convention Network of Vietnam (GCNV).