19th ASEAN Telecommunications and IT Ministers Meeting wraps up in Laos

The Vietnamese delegation, led by Deputy Minister of Information and Communications, Nguyen Thanh Hung, took part in the event under the theme “Smart Connectivity for ASEAN Digital Transformation.”

Participants at the event agreed to push ahead with developing the ASEAN digital master plan 2025, with a focus on initiatives and issues with great influence like digital data governance, cross-border data circulation, cyber security, international roaming and digital innovation ecosystem.

They also reached a consensus on boosting digital innovation via the issuance of policies and legal frameworks facilitating new technologies like the 5G network, Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and big data. They will also enhance people and businesses’ digital connectivity and access to accelerate the formation of the digital economy and society in the region.

In addition, the ASEAN nations will enhance cooperation in cyber security, supporting initiatives, sharing information and early warnings, promoting online safety, and dealing with the abuse and dissemination of wrong and illegal information.

As part of the TELMIN, the ASEAN officials had separate meetings with dialogue partners, namely China, Japan, the Republic of Korea (ROK), India, the US, the European Union and the International Telecommunication Union.

The Vietnamese delegation work with the Korean partners on the sidelines of the TELMIN 19 event on October 25. (Photo: NDO)

During the event, the Vietnamese delegation had bilateral working sessions with some ministers of other ASEAN countries and dialogue partners to share information and discuss cooperation regarding 5G ecosystem development, cooperation and information sharing on cybersecurity, digital innovation, capacity training and technology transfer.

At the closing press conference, Lao Post and Telecommunications Minister, Thansamay Kommasith, informed that the conference adopted the Vientiane Declaration on the smart connection in digital transformation among ASEAN and promoting the promotion of intra-regional connectivity. The TELMIN 19 also agreed to approve the organisational reform and rename the next meeting into the ASEAN Digital Ministers’ Meeting to reflect the role of digital technologies. The event will be held in Malaysia next year.

Answering a question from Nhan Dan Newspaper correspondents in Laos on the content of testing 5G services that Laos announced during the conference, Minister Thansamay Kommasith said that the trial of 5G service involves the participation of three major telecommunications companies, including Star Telecom Company, a joint venture of Vietnam’s Viettel group with Lao partners.