To develop green and sustainably, we must rely on science and technology, innovation and digital transformation.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung affirmed the important role of green development, considering it a great step forward for human civilization. The Minister pointed out that humans have basically relied on consumption and resource depletion, creating a lot of waste, leading to serious environmental pollution. This unsustainable development has affected Mother Nature, and needs to change to protect resources for future generations.

The Minister affirmed Vietnam's commitment to achieving the goal of net zero emissions by 2050. To achieve this goal, Vietnam is one of the first countries to develop a National Action Plan to implement the 2030 Agenda, shifting from the traditional growth model to green growth and digital economy.

Overview of the Session.

According to the Minister, to develop green and sustainably, we must rely on science and technology, innovation and digital transformation. Vietnam has brought these three together under one state management ministry, the Ministry of Science and Technology. The Minister affirmed that Vietnam considers science and technology, innovation and digital transformation as strategic choices and top priorities.

The head of Vietnam's science and technology sector emphasized the importance of technology in promoting green transformation and sustainable development. Especially breakthrough technologies such as hydrogen, new generation batteries, low carbon technology, and circular technology. New generation digital technologies that drive green transformation are AI, IoT, Big Data, and Semiconductor Chips. These are all technologies selected by the Vietnamese Government as strategic technologies to prioritize development.

The Minister said that Vietnam considers AI as the most core technology of the fourth industrial revolution. Vietnam's digital transformation is being transformed into AI. AI will not replace humans, but will help increase human power, be an assistant to humans, help humans become smarter, happier, optimize processes, and thus save more resources.

The Minister also pointed out that green transformation and digital transformation are two indispensable parallel factors in the process of sustainable development.

The Minister proposed to establish a website so that P4G countries, corporations and companies can access information on technologies and experiences in green transformation in the most convenient and fastest way. At the same time, establish an "Open Innovation Model" in P4G member countries to form a bridge between solution and technology providers and corporations and organizations with green transformation needs.

International cooperation is a key factor in promoting the dissemination of advanced technologies, contributing to the realization of global sustainable development goals.

At the meeting, Mr. Katsume Yasushi, Deputy Minister of the Environment of Japan, introduced three advanced Japanese technologies that contribute to the green transition and sustainable development. These are Johkasou technology, a waste-to-energy technology that helps reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions, while improving sanitation and the water environment. Japan has applied this technology in Vietnam, including waste-to-energy treatment facilities in Bac Ninh and Ha Long Bay.

The second technology is technology that supports the circular economy, with advanced technologies such as solar panel recycling, recycling from electronic waste. The third technology is environmental monitoring using AI to solve global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity loss, etc.

International cooperation, especially within the P4G framework, is key to promoting the dissemination of these technologies and achieving global sustainable development goals, Mr. Katsume Yasushi emphasized.

At the Session, representatives of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) highlighted the organization's important contributions to the global green transition. Green transition plays an important role in building resilient and prosperous societies, while affirming the important role of advanced technology such as AI in promoting sustainable development.

UNIDO is committed to supporting member countries to harness disruptive digital technologies to achieve goals such as clean energy and climate action; equitable and sustainable supply chains; food security through innovation and local value addition.

Ms. Fatou Haidara, Deputy Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO).

Ms. Fatou Haidara, Deputy Director General of the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), also introduced the initiative to establish the Global Alliance on AI for Industry and Manufacturing (AIM Global) to expand international partnerships on AI, maximizing the collective impact of governments, the private sector, academia and civil society. The goal of the alliance is to ensure equitable access to the benefits of AI, thereby promoting sustainable development goals.

Emphasizing the role of advanced technologies in promoting sustainable development, a representative from the Global Green Growth Institute (GGGI) stated that AI is playing a key role in promoting sustainable development and mitigating the impact of climate change. AI helps optimize processes in many areas such as energy, transportation, industry and agriculture, thereby supporting countries to reduce emissions and use resources more efficiently.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung took a souvenir photo with delegates attending the meeting.

GGGI representatives also emphasized the importance of public-private partnerships (PPPs) in deploying AI solutions. The government needs to establish stable legal frameworks and international cooperation to attract investment in green technology. Vietnam, with its growing digital economy and strong IT human resources, has a great opportunity to leverage AI in building a green and sustainable economy.

Concluding the session, Minister Nguyen Manh Hung highly appreciated the presentations, sharing, and stories of representatives from international organizations, countries, and businesses related to the application of breakthrough technologies towards sustainable development in the smart era.

The Minister said that Vietnam identifies science, technology, innovation and digital transformation (STID) as the central key in the green transformation process, and people must be the direct beneficiaries of these achievements.

Vietnam's Ministry of Science and Technology is called the Ministry of STID (Science, Technology, Innovation and Digital Development). For the first time in Vietnam, STID goes together in an ecosystem, in a state management ministry. For the first time, the Vietnamese State and the Communist Party of Vietnam put STID in the same Development Strategy.

Minister Nguyen Manh Hung also emphasized the importance of global cooperation, especially cooperation between the State - Institutes - Enterprises in realizing the goal of sustainable development./.