POLICY STATEMENT OF VIETNAM
delivered by H.E. Dr Mai Liem Truc, Secretary-General
Department General of Posts and Telecommunication of Viet Nam
Mr.Chairman,
Excellencies,
Distinguished delegates,
Ladies and Gentlemen,
First of all, I would like to send you all the warmest greetings from Viet Nam.
On behalf of Vietnamese delegation I wish to express our sincere thanks to
Morocco's Government and the City of Marrakech for the excellent organisation of
the Conference and the warm hospitality.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
It is a real privilege for me to attend this Plenipotentiary Conference, the
first one in the Information Age and the fifth one in my career. You may agree
with me that Conference is always a milestone in the world telecommunication
development. It is always marked by firm commitments, innovative solutions and
well targeted action plan. They address global issues such as telecommunication
deregulation and liberalisation, global connectivity and digital divide, new and
convergence of technologies. which are capital for telecommunication world. I
believe that this Conference will also meet the requirements and expectations of
the world telecommunity in the Information Age.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Nearly two third of members of ITU family are developing countries. They are
still encountering a lot of obstacles in bringing ICT related products and
services accessible and affordable to their people. The dream of "global
village" can not come true if two third of its population are marginalised.
In line with commitment by Ministers of Trade in Doha, I strongly propose this
Plenipotentiary Conference to place the needs and the interests of developing
countries at heart of its work programme.
It is worth noting that a number of developing countries are already engaged
in restructuring and liberalising process. Win-win solutions are therefore more
numerous and more feasible. We can then expect a well targeted, technically and
financially sound strategic plan addressing top priorities of developing
countries such as infrastructure/access, regulation/competition, ICT application
skills in view of economic growth.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
I have touched on the material side of the Information Society we are
building. I think this Plenipotentiary Conference should also pay special
attention to the social and cultural side of the Information Society.
Information has become an agent of economic, social, cultural prosperity. But
telephony, internet, electronic mass media provide only physical access to
information. The real access to information and its assimilation by and to the
benefits of the community depend on factors such as:
- local language and practices
- local cultures
- basic education and training allowing people to use ICT products and
services, to transform information in knowledge and expertise
The challenge is that how to promote the information flow, the best use of
information while preserving, fostering the cultural diversity as well as the
national identity in the globalised context. As for me the solution will go
through the development of local content and the appropriate human resources
development.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
The tremendous impact of information and communication technologies on every
aspect of human activities is now obvious. National economy and security depend
more and more on reliable and secure operation of Info-communication networks.
It is therefore time for us to think seriously about the security of the
information networks and common codes of behaviour for activities carried on
them. Hacker, online bank robber, pornography, terrorism and drug trafficking
using advanced info-communication tools are now very hot in the news and
strongly condemned by the whole society. Because of the global reach of
telecommunication networks, cyber-crimes are of international nature and so
international coordination and cooperation are needed to combat such crimes. The
key point here is the common vision, the common understanding of the security
issue, the harmonisation of systems and procedures for combating the
cyber-crimes. I do hope that this Plenipotentiary Conference will make a
breakthrough in this regards.
Ladies and gentlemen,
With rapid development and increasing penetration in socio-economic
activities, Vietnam Telecommunication and Information Technology has become an
important economic, technological and service sector forming the infrastructure
of the national economy.
Together with other ITU members, we are doing our best to realize the
objective of the Union "ICT for all: empowering people to cross the digital
divide". Indeed, we are implementing the "Posts and Telecommunications
Strategic Plan to the year 2010". We give high priority to the rapid
increase of basic service penetration and to the reduction of tariff. These
indicators must reach the global level by 2010.
In order to ensure the success of the Strategic Plan, pro-competitive policy
is chosen and clearly stated in the Telecommunication Ordinance taking effect
from 01/10/2002. In addition, to address better the opportunities and challenges
brought about by the convergence of technologies a Ministry responsible for
Posts, Telecommunications and Information Technology has been set up.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Vietnam has been trying his best to improve his participation in activities
of the Union. We are determined to promote further regional and international
integration in order to be an active stakeholder in the building of the Global
Information Society. In line with this policy, Vietnam is seeking a seat at ITU
Council.
Ladies and gentlemen,
Finally, I would like to express once again our appreciation to the
host-Morocco's Government for the excellent arrangement for the Conference in
this unique city of Marrakech. Our best wishes for the success of the
Conference, for the prosperity of the telecommunity and for the fruitful
cooperation among all ITU members.
Thank you.
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