17-1-2024 (HANOI) Addressing recent speculation about the health of Vietnam’s top leader, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed on Tuesday that there are no health issues with the country’s General Secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong. Speaking on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos, Chinh reassured the public, stating, “everything is good.” The clarification comes after Trong’s absence from official schedules for meetings with foreign dignitaries raised questions about his well-being. Chinh emphasized Trong’s attendance at the opening ceremony of an extraordinary session of Vietnam’s National Assembly on Monday. The ongoing session covers topics such as banking and land reforms, additional spending, and medium-term investment plans for state utility Vietnam Electricity (EVN).
Returning to discussions at Davos, Chinh, in an interview with New York Times columnist Thomas Friedman, highlighted Vietnam’s view of the U.S. and China as “strategic partners.” When questioned about potential requests from U.S. President Joe Biden or Chinese leader Xi Jinping to distance Vietnam from the other side, Chinh emphasized that both countries are “close friends of Vietnam.” He underscored the importance of political trust, citing the visits of Biden and Xi to Vietnam in 2023 as significant in building understanding and respect.
Regarding Vietnam’s transition from assembling to designing technology products, Chinh acknowledged the need to leverage the country’s status as a “latecomer” in the tech industry. He emphasized attracting investments in high-tech sectors and encouraging foreign companies to establish research and development centers in Vietnam. The prime minister likened this strategy to the Chinese playbook from previous decades, as Vietnam aims to become a primary location for companies diversifying away from China. Chinh emphasized the importance of seizing opportunities and overcoming challenges as Vietnam pursues its technological evolution.
