Davos (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has continuously engaged ina series of sessions and meetings with world and business leaders as part of hissideline activities at the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting in Davos,Switzerland.

At a high-level dialogue on responsive andresponsible leadership on January 19 (local time), he called on countries toact responsibly towards regional and global peace and stability. He also highlyvalued the role of multilateral organisations, especially the United Nations,in promoting common interests of the international community.

Meanwhile, in an opening speech at a debatesession on the outlook of ASEAN after 50 years of development, the Vietnameseleader highlighted the grouping’s achievements, its consensus principle and the“ASEAN Way” which created the bloc’s identity.

ASEAN should effectively implement the roadmapto the ASEAN Economic Community and take advantage of free trade agreementswith partners to attract investment and foster trade. Vietnam has madeimportant and responsible contributions to the unity and consensus of ASEAN andjoined other ASEAN countries in building a strong ASEAN Community, he added.

At a meeting with UN Secretary-General AntonioGuterres the same day, PM Phuc assured that Vietnam will continue its proactiveand active participation and effective contributions to the UN’s importantissues. The two sides also voiced their delight at the growing relationshipbetween Vietnam and the UN.

He valued the effectiveness of the extensivecooperation with the Netherlands, particularly in the building of the MekongDelta Plan, while talking to his Dutch counterpart Mark Rutte.

PM Phuc asked the country to keep assistingVietnam to implement the strategic partnership agreement on sustainableagriculture and food security, and to support Vietnam’s candidacy for anon-permanent membership of the UN Security Council for 2020-2021.

Meeting with Queen Maxima of the Netherlands, hesaid he hopes the Queen will share experience in the development of inclusivefinance and promote partners’ assistance for Vietnam in building creditprogrammes targeting low-income people and ethnic minority groups.

Meanwhile, he noted satisfactorily theorganisation of practical activities marking 45 years of theVietnam-Switzerland diplomatic ties at another meeting with Swiss PresidentDoris Leuthard on January 19. He also appreciated the Swiss Government’scommitment to giving 90 million USD in financial aid to Vietnam for 2017-2020,asking Switzerland to help his nation develop high-quality education.

Speaking to Sri Lankan PM Ranil Wickremesinghe,PM Phuc told both sides to coordinate to effectively carry out bilateral cooperationmechanisms. They should also consider setting up a joint committee at theministerial level to boost ties, work out concrete measures to augment trade,investment and tourism and agricultural cooperation.

At separate meetings with executives of globalenterprises, the leader asked UK group Prudential to expand operations inVietnam and have more programmes and projects to help enhance the localinsurance and financial services industries.

PM Phuc showed support for US firmAlphabet-Google’s opening of an office in Vietnam, adding that Vietnam boastshuge potential for IT development. He also invited the group’s representativesto attend the APEC Business Advisory Council and the APEC meetings in Vietnamlater this year.

He told executives of the US’s Carlyle andQualcomm groups that his country is pressing on with measures to improve the investmentclimate and have much potential of IT development.

He highly valued the Swiss Re Group’s operationsin Vietnam, saying these have helped improve the competitiveness of thecountry’s insurance system.

The PM also asked Swiss Re to share experience and carry out more cooperationprogrammes and projects in this field, especially agricultural insurance.-VNA