Prime Minister Le Minh Hung held a 60-minute dialogue with Stephan Mergenthaler, Managing Director of the World Economic Forum (WEF), in Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of 28 October, after the high-level plenary of the Autumn Economic Forum 2026 (AEF 2026). The session was titled Positioning Vietnam in the global future, and its central message was that the more uncertain the world becomes, the more Vietnam must be strategically proactive, strengthen its internal capacity and widen cooperation.
According to Bao Chinh phu, the government newspaper, the exchange covered five themes: global shifts, new growth drivers, the position of Vietnam, foreign relations and integration, and a role as co-creator in partnerships. VnExpress noted that instead of only delivering a speech, the Prime Minister this time held a direct conversation with the WEF representative.
Three challenges from a fragmenting world
The Prime Minister said the world was entering a period of deep upheaval: power is shifting towards a multipolar order, competition between major powers is spreading into technology, data, energy and trade standards, and globalisation is being reorganised in a more fragmented way. That creates three challenges: common institutions and rules need to be updated to keep pace, growth models built on traditional drivers are reaching their limits, and strategic trust is declining while competition intensifies. According to Bao Chinh phu, he stressed that cooperation is impossible without building and consolidating strategic trust.
Five ways to build resilience
Asked how Vietnam would strengthen its resilience, the Prime Minister listed five priorities: political and social stability and a solid macroeconomic base; better institutions and fewer procedures; modern infrastructure, a push on science and technology and gradual mastery of technology; better education and training; and broader, more diverse foreign relations. VnExpress quoted him as saying Vietnam would attract investment selectively, linked to technology transfer and the training and development of human resources.
Figures cited by the Prime Minister during the dialogue:
| Indicator | Figure |
|---|---|
| Public debt | About 34% of GDP |
| Cut in compliance time for citizens and businesses over 6 months | 53% |
| Cut in compliance costs over 6 months | 55% |
| Free trade agreements signed | 18 |
| Population | More than 100 million |
According to Bao Chinh phu, he described these cuts in compliance time and cost as the largest ever. Public debt of about 34% of GDP, he said, leaves room both to support people and businesses when shocks hit and to keep investing in strategic infrastructure and other priorities.
He also explained what strategic autonomy means: autonomy is not isolation, but stronger capacity for self-determination combined with a wider development space through proactive, deep and effective international integration.
A vision to 2035
Looking to 2035, Vietnam wants to become an emerging hub for digital technology industry, new, green and clean energy and green agricultural production, as well as a reliable link in regional and global supply and value chains. The Prime Minister pointed to three strengths: a strategic location combined with political and macroeconomic stability; a move into a new development phase at the very moment the global economy is restructuring; and a broad domestic base, including a population of more than 100 million, a large market and abundant labour.
Message to investors and the WEF
To international businesses, the Prime Minister said Vietnam hopes they will bring not only capital but also technology, knowledge, management experience and training. He described Vietnam as not just an investment destination but a long-term development partner, and called for a shift from investing in Vietnam to investing with Vietnam, with foreign firms building closer ties with local companies, research institutes and universities. A stronger Vietnamese business sector, he argued, also serves the interests of foreign investors. Vietnam is also ready to become a strategic partner of the WEF in the region.
The forum and what comes next
The Autumn Economic Forum 2026 runs from 26-29 October in Ho Chi Minh City under the theme Spirit of cooperation in a new era. It is chaired by the city People's Committee, organised by the HCMC Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (HCMC C4IR) and co-branded with the WEF. According to the plan reported by Bao Chinh phu before the dialogue, the programme includes 21 discussion, dialogue and in-depth sessions, 16 side events and about 20 meetings between government and city leaders and international partners.
Closing the dialogue, the Prime Minister said the government would stay committed to fast, high growth built on macroeconomic stability, better institutions, infrastructure and human resources, and the protection of the lawful rights and interests of businesses and investors. The government will keep up dialogue, listen to proposals and resolve them promptly within its powers, and its commitments will continue to be implemented.