Dear distinguished delegates,

Esteemed representatives of domestic and international media agencies,

Ladies and gentlemen,

We are entering a pivotal moment in our nation’s development. The world is shifting toward a fundamentally new competitive landscape – one where national advantage is no longer determined by natural resources, investment capital, or labor costs, but by technological ecosystems, innovation capacity, and the degree of green and sustainable alignment with global standards.

In this new era, national strength is not measured by the “scale of expansion investment” as in past decades, but by the speed at which knowledge is created, transformed, and converted into technological and economic value. Countries that can master technology, utilize data, and restructure production towards digitalization and green standards will lead the competition; those slow to adapt will inevitably fall behind.

For that reason, the digital and green transition are not two separate pathways. They are two strategic pillars that converge and reinforce each other, creating dual development capacity:

Digital transition enables operational excellence, optimization, transparency, and enhanced economic efficiency.

Green transition ensures development without compromising the environment, future resources, or compliance with emerging global standards—especially in green trade, carbon taxation, and ESG frameworks.

When these two transformative forces advance in parallel, they lay the foundation for a smart, future-ready economy –  where digital technology, innovation, and green standards are embedded into national strategy rather than fragmented, isolated pilot projects.

Therefore, the task before us is not simply to “apply new technologies” or “reduce carbon emissions,” but to fundamentally reimagine our development model – from quantitative expansion to qualitative upgrading; from resource-labor-based growth to knowledge – innovation-driven growth; from consumption-driven expansion to efficient and sustainable growth.

The Autumn Economic Forum 2025, held under the theme “Green Transition in the Digital Era,” represents Ho Chi Minh City’s new development declaration in this context. This theme is not merely for discussion – it is a call to action, a commitment to positioning, and a roadmap for execution. This year’s Forum must serve as the platform where “development thinking” is translated into “implementation capability” – at the levels of government, cities, enterprises, and ecosystems.

Ho Chi Minh City, with its expanded development space after the recent administrative consolidation, must demonstrate the transformative capacity worthy of its role as Vietnam’s national mega-urban center. The City must not only keep pace with global development trends but proactively shape new development standards for Vietnam, grounded in the knowledge economy, advanced science and technology, and principles of sustainable growth aligned with Net Zero and global green-transition objectives.

Regarding the City’s new positioning and its image after the merger, it is essential that the Forum communicates Vietnam’s and Ho Chi Minh City’s true economic potential to international partners and investors. With the unified structure, Ho Chi Minh City now accounts for one-quarter of the national economy and one-third of the national budget revenue. We also possess three highly complementary growth poles:Bình Dương’s established industrial base,Ho Chi Minh City’s dynamic economic and administrative center, Bà Rịa – Vũng Tàu’s sustained advantages in logistics, energy, and seaport development.Together, these strengths create an unprecedented growth configuration – one that amplifies and reinforces itself. The Forum is an opportunity for us to articulate this new identity, unlock these opportunities, and shape a new metropolis capable of leading Vietnam’s economic future. This is one of the core aspirations of this year’s Forum.

The Forum must therefore reflect this vision – not merely by “discussing dual transition,” but by demonstrating the ability to implement dual transition at scale in areas where Vietnam can build new comparative advantages: smart manufacturing, low-carbon logistics, digital urban services, open innovation, and the piloting of new policy mechanisms. The City must showcase evidence-based approaches, analytical tools, international best practices, and concrete execution programs.

Accordingly, the Forum’s sessions, reports, and presentations must go beyond sharing experiences. They should advance toward model design, mechanism proposals, and scalable components – serving as a development blueprint, not merely directional recommendations.

I propose the Organizing Committee, content coordination teams, and partner organizations to ensure that the Autumn Economic Forum 2025 delivers tangible and practical outcomes: concrete policy proposals, new cooperation frameworks, and actionable pilot initiatives that can be translated into city-level and national-level programs.

Ho Chi Minh City must set clear criteria for this year’s forum: The forum must not merely be academic – it must generate momentum for innovation in policy, institutions, and multi-sectoral cooperation; and thereby boost the implementation capacity for green transition and digital transformation to become sustainable development drivers for Vietnam in the coming period.

That is the requirement, the expectation, and also our responsibility as we organize this year’s Forum”.

Dear distinguished delegates and members of the press.

The success of this Forum should not be measured by its scale or the number of international participants, but by the quality of commitments, partnerships, and actions that follow. This will be the new benchmark for national credibility in the era of dual transformation—where global confidence is built not on rhetoric, but on the ability to turn dialogue into policy, policy into implementation, and implementation into large-scale impact. The Forum must affirm that Vietnam—and Ho Chi Minh City—are fully capable of shaping new development standards through organizational excellence and execution capacity.

The Organizing Committee is committed to preparing this Forum to the highest standards—in content, in guest engagement, in technical arrangements, in logistics, and in international hospitality. Yet for the Forum to generate enduring value and widespread impact, we rely on the proactive engagement of media partners. The press is not merely a channel of communication – it is a force that shapes public consciousness, establishes new expectations, and transforms societal mindsets. And when mindsets change, behaviors change – forming the foundation for digital and green transition to take root meaningfully in daily life.

I hope that our media partners will not only report on the event but also convey the core spirit of this year’s Forum – the spirit of a Vietnam that proactively shapes the future rather than passively adapts; that dares to lead, experiment, and pioneer new approaches to unlock fresh development spaces.

On behalf of the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, I formally call for strong media engagement to amplify the Autumn Economic Forum 2025. Let us not only disseminate information but also spread a vision—a development mindset—and a commitment to a Vietnam stepping into a new era of growth driven by intellect, technology, and responsibility for future generations.

Thank you very much, and I wish all of you good health, determination, creativity, and unwavering confidence as we work together toward a future that is greener, more digital, smarter, more sustainable, and more humane.