On June 7, 2022, within the framework of the Network of East Asian Think-Tanks (NEAT), the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam (DAV) held a virtual working group meeting themed “Digital transformation as a new driver for socio-economic development”. The meeting was attended by representatives from NEAT member countries and lecturers, researchers, and students from the DAV.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan speaking at the opening of the meeting

Speaking at the opening section, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, NEAT Vietnam Coordinator, Deputy Director-General of the Institute for Foreign Policy and Strategic Studies, DAV, said that the meeting was an opportunity for academics from NEAT member countries to exchange their knowledge, experiences, and views on digital transformation. It is worth noting the experiences of each country in digitalizing their economies and societies and promoting regional cooperation in the digital economy. He believed that the meeting would promote the cooperative relationship between the DAV and East Asian think tanks more effectively and sincerely.

Speakers were attending the meeting.

During the meeting, experts representing NEAT member countries had a fruitful and candid discussion, focusing on each country's digital transformation strategies and policies. The speakers agreed digital transformation has played very important role to recover the economies of APT in post-covid-19 pandemic. However, it has faced many challenges, namely: 1. Inadequate ICT related legal framework; 2. Lack of digital infrastructure; 3. Limited digital literacy; 4. Digital gap between urban and rural areas; 5. Inadequate transport infrastructure and poor delivery system and so on.

The speakers also have recommended some solutions to successfully carry out the digital transformation such as: (i) to invest in disruptive R&D program; (ii) to create digital talents and appropriate IT infrastructure; (iii) to develop the startup  ecosystem; (iv) to provide support and guidelines to encourage the private sector to adopt cutting-edge technologies; (v) to digitalize government services to create a strong and effective government; (vi) to enable firms (particularly SMEs) to participate in international trade (via cross border e-commerce) through international agreements; (vii) the promotion digital transformation and digitalization need to be accompanied by policy measures to protect those displaced by the digitalization process; (viii) to promote international cooperation indigital domainand discuss possibility of setting up a digital economy agreement among member APT countries./.