Davos (VNA) – Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc particpated in activities onthe sidelines of the 47th annual meeting of the World Economic Forum(WEF) in Davos city, Switzerland on January 18.

During ameeting with his Austrian counterpart Christian Kern, Phuc asked Austria torecognise Vietnam as a market economy, push forward the European Union (EU)’sapproval of the Vietnam-EU Free Trade Agreement, and back Vietnam’s bid fornon-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for 2020-2021.

The two PMsagreed to launch celebrations for the 45th anniversary of bilateraldiplomatic ties and convene a meeting of the Inter-Governmental Committee onEconomic and Trade Cooperation.

In aworking session with WEF President Klaus Schwab, the Vietnamese leader soughtthe WEF’s support to connect Vietnam with leading corporations and experts, andconsultations on policies on national competitiveness and high-tech agriculture.He also proposed the WEF continue to hold the WEF Mekong Conference.

PraisingVietnam’s development potential, Schwab wished to enhance cooperation with thecountry, especially in the form of public-private partnerships (PPP).

Later, bothsides witnessed the signing of a PPP agreement on economic development betweenVietnam and the WEF, under which, the latter will help connect Vietnam with itstop businesses, provide Vietnam with policy consultation on economicrestructuring, high-tech agriculture, national competitiveness and climatechange, and receive Vietnamese cadres as apprentices at WEF units.

Talkingwith President of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Tahehiko Nakao, PM Phuc askedthe lender to assist Vietnam in transport infrastructure upgrades, energy,administrative procedure simplification, and trade and investment facilitationin the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS).

He invitedthe ADB President and leaders to attend the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation(APEC) forum High-Level Week in the central city of Da Nang this November andrelated meetings in Vietnam.

Nakao pledgedto extend the provision of preferential credit for Vietnam until 2019 and helpthe country launch projects within the framework of GMS cooperation.

The twosides vowed to step up projects in infrastructure, climate change response,economic restructuring and poverty reduction and work with GMS member states toprepare for the sixth GMS Summit in Vietnam.

In aconversation with President of Microsoft Corporation Bradford Smith, Phuc urgedMicrosoft to continue doing business in Vietnam, and invited him to attend the APECBusiness Summit this November in Da Nang.

Microsoftwants to intensify ties with Vietnam in network security, human resources trainingand software industry, Smith said.

WEF Davos2017 focuses on promoting global economic growth, embracing inclusive growth,measures to take advantage of the fourth on-going industrial revolution, andshaping global cooperation orientations.

The event gathersmore than 3,000 participants, including those from governments, internationaland non-governmental organisations, along with entrepreneurs, scholars, andsocial activists.

Established in 1971, the WEF is an independentinternational organisation committed to improving the state of the world by linkingbusinesses, politicians, academics and other leaders of society.-VNA