Vietnam calls for US cooperation in building smart cities
Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan has called for US businesses’ engagement in providing technology and cooperating in building criteria for smart cities as well as local planning.
Hanoi (VNA) – Minister of Information andCommunications Truong Minh Tuan has called for US businesses’ engagement inproviding technology and cooperating in building criteria for smart cities aswell as local planning.
At a meeting in Hanoi on March 21 with US Ambassador toVietnam Ted Osius, the Minister noted that Vietnam is to develop five smartcities in the future.
He proposed that the two sides increase policy dialogues tostrengthen mutual understanding in vision, orientations and the implementationof specific cooperation activities in information and communication technology.
Vietnam and the US should coordinate in holding conferencesand seminars to shar experience in managing and developing new service formsand business models in the digital economy, while building effectivecooperation mechanisms in ensuring cyber security, he suggested.
Minister Tuan noted that Vietnam and the US have becomecomprehensive partnership since 2013. Last year, two-way trade reached over 40billion USD, with Vietnam’s exports of over 33 billion USD and import value ofabout 8 billion USD.
In the field of information and communication technology, mostof major giants of the US have invested in Vietnam, including Intel, Microsoft,IBM, Oracle, Cisco, Motorola and Qualcomm, while social networks such asFacebook and Google have also succeeded in the market.
At the meeting, the two sides gave frank discussion on suchissues as the management of Internet, control of websites with harmful contentsand the settlement of violations of intelligence property rights.
Minister Tuan said that in order to realise and guide the implementationof the Law on Intellectual Property Rights, the ministry has enhanced itsresponsibility in management of intellectual property right as well as relevantrights under the ministry’s authority.
The ministry has also collaborated with ministries, sectorsand localities as well as organisations to roll out synchronised measures to implementthe law in the field of publishing, especially in inspection and handling ofviolations.
Ambassador Ted Osius said that the US side has been studyinginfrastructure systems in a number of cities and provinces of Vietnam foraffiliation in building smart cities.
In the coming time, the US will work with Hai Phong, QuangNinh and Ho Chi Minh City on the work, while coordinating with the Vietnam Postand Telecommunication to organise a conference to develop specific projects inthe field.-VNA
The Mekong Delta city of Can Tho and the Republic of Korea (RoK) have discussed the implementation of a joint project to build a smart city, which was signed in 2015.
The Hanoi People’s Committee has approved a pilot programme that will utilise software and automation technology to manage public parking zones in the city.
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Ho Chi Minh City plans to become a smart city, and the task requires concerted efforts by the administration and information technology community, a city leader has said.
With the government's strong direction and active participation from businesses and citizens, national digital transformation is deepening, with a focus on building a digital government, economy, and society.
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The new line serves as a critical backup route, strategically complementing existing submarine cables and enhancing the resilience, proactivity, and security of Vietnam’s telecommunications infrastructure.
Vietnam is actively yet cautiously preparing for the construction of its first nuclear power plant in Ninh Thuan (now the south-central coastal province of Khanh Hoa). The resumption of the programme after years of suspension carries considerable significance for the nation’s development in a new era as it strives to gradually reduce and ultimately phase out coal-fired power to realise the Government’s commitment to Net Zero by 2050.
The government leader reaffirmed Vietnam’s goal of achieving self-reliance in the design, manufacturing, and test of necessary semiconductor chips by no later than 2027.
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Dung directed the Ministry of Science and Technology to revise the national startup scheme, ensuring it clearly defines the scope and content, grounded on strong political and legal foundations, international best practices, and well-reasoned arguments for submission to the Government.
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With such a rapid economic growth, Vietnam must diversify energy sources and nuclear power is a rational choice to ensure the national energy security, said Associate Professor Kei Koga from the Nanyang Technological University (Singapore).
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Chi Dung emphasised that Vietnam has a clear strategy and ambition in this field, and is rapidly emerging as a central hub and key link in the regional and global semiconductor value chains.
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The visit aimed to assess the new two-tier local government model, preparations for upcoming Party congresses at levels, and implementation of the Politburo’s Conclusion on school construction in border areas.
Overview of the meeting (Photo: VNA) 
