Vietnam’s General Secretary Calls for Technological Advancement and Digital Transformation at P4G Summit

The 2025 “Global Green Growth and 2030 Goals Partnership” (P4G) summit commenced in Hanoi on April 16, attracting over a thousand representatives from more than 40 countries and international organizations. This marks the fourth P4G summit and is Vietnam’s first time hosting a high-level multilateral conference focused on green growth.

In his keynote address, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong, emphasized that in the face of unprecedented global changes, Vietnam is firmly advancing towards a new era of national prosperity and social well-being. The country is committed to building a socialist society that is “wealthy, democratic, equitable, civilized, and happy.” Vietnam aims to achieve the status of a modern industrial upper-middle-income country by 2030 and to become a high-income developed socialist nation by 2045.

Based on 40 years of renovation experience, Trong highlighted Vietnam’s steadfast commitment to a “sustainable, inclusive, and harmonious” development philosophy. He stated that rapid development must be coupled with high quality and sustainability, achieving a harmonious balance between economic, cultural, social development, and environmental protection, as well as climate response. Vietnam’s development serves not only national interests but also carries international responsibilities to promote peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and globally. The focus remains on win-win cooperation, with the people at the center of development, ensuring that all citizens share in the benefits of growth.

Trong pointed out that Vietnam is accelerating the implementation of its national development strategy, viewing institutional reform as a “breakthrough among breakthroughs.” The country is committed to deepening reform and opening up, removing barriers to development, and unleashing the potential of various resources, especially in promoting comprehensive socio-economic development. There is a strong emphasis on the role of the private sector and the integration into the global economic system.

He indicated that technological advancement, innovation-driven growth, and digital transformation are currently the most crucial strategic breakthroughs, serving as the core engines for developing modern productivity, optimizing production relations, and enhancing national governance. Data is considered the “air and sunlight” of the new era and is a new form of production material; digitization is a key tool for transformative development, and innovation is essential for achieving sustainable prosperity.

Regarding green transformation, Trong noted that despite being in a developmental and transitional phase with relatively limited resources, Vietnam has made significant progress by closely integrating its green growth strategy with its ten-year socio-economic development strategy. Vietnam is a leading renewable energy supplier in ASEAN, with wind and solar energy accounting for two-thirds of the region’s total installed capacity. In terms of green agriculture, the “One Million Hectares of Low-Emission Quality Rice” project has become a model of interest for many international organizations.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh announced the official opening of the 2025 P4G summit on April 16. The summit’s theme is “People-Centered Sustainable Green Transformation.” General Secretary Trong attended and delivered his address, while Prime Minister Chinh presided over the opening ceremony.

Furthermore, Vietnam actively participates in and fulfills its commitments in global mechanisms for green growth and energy transformation, including the Paris Agreement and the Just Energy Transition Partnership (JETP). This demonstrates Vietnam’s strong sense of responsibility. The country has nearly completed the institutional framework supporting green development, including national master plans, energy planning, strategic plans for key industries, and significant project lists, which provide robust support for green transformation.

Trong also acknowledged that as a developing country undergoing economic transformation, Vietnam faces multiple challenges, including inadequate funding, technology, and human resources, as well as the impacts of climate change and international geopolitical turmoil.

Looking ahead, Vietnam is accelerating strategic reforms to prepare for rapid, green, inclusive, and sustainable development. Trong emphasized, “We will steadfastly translate political commitments into practical actions, igniting the participation of businesses and society in building a green economy. Green institutions are the foundation, green technology is the driving force, and green talent is the key.”

He stated that Vietnam’s path to development is intertwined with the currents of globalization and human civilization’s progress. The country is committed to merging national strength with contemporary trends, striving to build an enduring “Vietnamese strength” in this dynamic era while continuing to deepen international openness and fully, efficiently, and deeply integrate into the global community.

Hosting the fourth P4G summit holds significant importance for Vietnam, as it not only underscores its role as a trustworthy and responsible international partner but also reaffirms Vietnam’s commitment to sustainable development, energy transformation, and achieving carbon neutrality by 2050. This initiative also aims to enhance global awareness of international cooperation and elevate the voice and influence of developing countries in green growth and sustainable development.

In conclusion, Trong expressed his hope that the summit will inject new momentum into cooperation between P4G and its partners, bridging the North-South divide and fostering collaboration between public and private sectors, to accelerate global green transformation and achieve sustainable development and green finance goals.