ASEAN needs to develop humane digital ecosystem: Prime Minister

The event was attended by Under-Secretary-General and the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General's Envoy on Technology Amandeep Singh Gill, ASEAN Secretary-General Kao Kim Hourn, ministers in charge of information technology, telecommunications, and digital transformation from ASEAN Member States as well as representatives of dialogue partners and international organizations.

Within the framework of the 6th ADGMIN themed "ASEAN Adaptive: From Infrastructure Connectivity to Intelligent Connectivity", Viet Nam has hosted a series of conferences and related activities on ASEAN digital cooperation from January 12-16 in Ha Noi.

These meetings focused on reviewing the progress of implementing ASEAN's digital cooperation frameworks and discussing priorities and directions for future collaboration, thereby contributing to the promotion of a safe, trusted, inclusive, and adaptive ASEAN digital space in response to the rapid changes in digital technologies.

In Viet Nam, 5G coverage has reached 91.2 percent of the population while mobile Internet speed ranks among the world's top 20 in 2025, rising by 50 places compared to the end of 2020. A 3,900-kilometre terrestrial fiber-optic route has been deployed, connecting Viet Nam with five ASEAN countries.

Addressing the event, Prime Minister Pham called on ASEAN to promote the development of a humane and people-centered digital ecosystem, effectively implement the ASEAN Guide on AI Governance and Ethics, and efficiently operate the ASEAN AI Safety Network.

The bloc should accelerate the completion of legal frameworks and coordination mechanisms for shared data, while fostering the development of AI towards a transparent, flexible, and responsible manner, Pham said.

It is vital to develop modern digital infrastructure, enhance smart, synchronized, and sustainable digital connectivity and enhance resilience—especially for fiber-optic cable systems, both submarine and terrestrial, and data centers, he underlined.

He emphasized the need to promptly boost cooperation in researching and developing satellite systems to support disaster monitoring, resource management, and the provision of Internet access for remote and island areas.

ASEAN should move toward early research and development of a green, clean, and secure power grid to ensure a sustainable energy supply for digital infrastructure and connectivity, suggested the Vietnamese leader.

He recommended the bloc strengthen cross-border connectivity, especially in the fields of digital payments, e-commerce, and digital identity.

The Prime Minister urged ASEAN to enhance the effectiveness of information sharing, strengthen joint exercises, and build trust to respond promptly and effectively to cyberattacks, while intensifying cooperation in combating online fraud and cybercrime.

He called for stepping up the development of high-quality digital human resources, especially in fields such as big data, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing.

Viet Nam stands ready to share its experience and further foster comprehensive cooperation with countries on the basis of transparency, trust, and mutual respect, stressed Pham.

The commitments made at the meeting will contribute to shaping a coherent institutional framework, interoperable digital infrastructure, and a safe digital space, laying the foundation for development, narrowing the digital divide, and enhancing ASEAN's competitiveness and standing, stated the leader./.