New York (VNA) – Party General Secretary and State President To Lam on the morning of September 23 (local time) met with experts and scholars at Columbia University, in the framework of his working trip to the US for the UN Future Summit and related events.

The experts noted that Vietnam has potential to sustain its high economic growth, driven by high-tech sectors, innovation, and improved investment conditions.

They emphasised the need for the government to guide the development, with infrastructure as a foundation and the private sector as a key driver, particularly in areas like artificial intelligence (AI).

They recommended that Vietnam focus on two or three emerging technologies and invest heavily in research and development.

Thomas Vallely, Senior Advisor on Vietnam at the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, highlighted the importance of investing in strategic digital infrastructure. Experts also praised Vietnam's direction in developing the semiconductor industry.

Scott Fritzen, President of Fulbright University Vietnam, suggested updating traditional education to equip students with skills needed for rapid technological advancements.

Anne Neuberger, US Deputy National Security Advisor, commended the comprehensive U.S.-Vietnam strategic partnership, particularly in cybersecurity and combating cybercrime.

Lam welcomed assessments, sharing, and especially the sentiments that the experts and scholars have given to Vietnam.

He affirmed that Vietnam is ready for a new historical starting point, and a new era, stating that it will continue to concertedly and comprehensively promote the renewal process, boosting the country's rapid and sustainable development based on the viewpoint of taking economic and social development, and environmental protection as the centre, Party building as the key, cultural development as the foundation, ensuring national defence and security and promoting foreign affairs as essential and regular task with the spirit of "self-reliance, self-confidence, self-reliance, self-strength, and national pride".

The leader underlined four major orientations in promoting socio-economic development in the coming period, namely focusing on building, perfecting and concertedly innovating the country's development institutions; strongly developing science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation to create breakthroughs in productivity, quality, efficiency, and competitiveness of the economy; continuing to fundamentally, comprehensively, effectively, and substantially renovating education and training; and concentrating on developing high-quality human resources for priority and emerging sectors and fields. Vietnam persistently pursues its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, multilateralisation, and diversification, ensuring the highest national interests on the basis of the fundamental principles of international law, he stated.

Lam asked for the experts and scholars’ continuous attention to and strengthened cooperation with Vietnam, especially in policy research and sharing, and support to Vietnam in boosting science-technology development.

ﷺ In the witness of Party General Secretary and State President Lam, and Provost of Columbia University Angela Olinto as well as participants at the event, Deputy Foreign Minister Do Hung Viet and Executive Vice President of Columbia University Wafaa El-Sadr presented the framework memorandum of understanding on cooperation between Columbia University and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam. Meanwhile, VinUni University and Fulbright University Vietnam also announced two memoranda of understanding with Columbia University to promote cooperation in the field of training/.