Vietnam's PM at Davos: I'd Play Golf With Trump All Day for National Interests
At Davos, Vietnam's PM outlined AI and net-zero ambitions, and joked he'd play golf with Trump all day for national interests.
[Vietnam's PM at Davos: I'd Play Golf With Trump All Day for National Interests]
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh led Vietnam's top political and business leaders to the World Economic Forum in Davos. He opened the interview with a striking line: "Vietnam endured 40 years of war and 30 years of economic embargo... Our culture teaches us: the bigger the challenge, the greater our effort."
He laid out the keywords for Vietnam's future: AI, renewable energy, a national database, and carbon neutrality.
▍ AI and the National Database
Vietnam aims to become a high-income nation by 2045, the PM said. Completing the national database by June is a critical step. He emphasized that investment in tech education and infrastructure sits at the core of this strategy.
▍ Net-Zero Carbon
Pham Minh Chinh reaffirmed Vietnam's pledge to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. The country has rich solar and wind resources but still needs foreign technology and funding. He noted that Vietnam is among the nations hardest hit by extreme weather — Typhoon No. 3 devastated the north last year, a tragedy that brought him to tears during a National Assembly speech.
▍ Diplomatic Humor
Asked how Vietnam navigates geopolitical risks, the PM responded with a grin: "For the sake of national interests, I'd even play golf with Trump all day!" The line drew a round of laughter and demonstrated the wit behind Vietnamese diplomacy.
