Closing ceremony of the Vietnam Leadership Program 2026: A shared vision for new growth drivers
On the morning of August 26 (New York time), the high-level Vietnamese delegation led by Central Party Committee Member and Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang concluded the Vietnam Leadership Program (VLP) 2026 after three days of activities at Columbia University, USA.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang poses with delegates attending the Vietnam Leadership Program 2026 at Columbia University. (Photo: VNA) |
In his closing remarks, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang highly appreciated the meticulous preparation by the Weatherhead East Asian Institute, involved individuals, and American experts and scholars, while also expressing gratitude for their contributions of knowledge, experience, and affection towards the Delegation.
According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the open-spirited discussions provided many practical and useful insights for Vietnamese agencies in policy planning and implementation.
Sharing the view of professors and experts that the world is at a significant turning point, Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang stated that challenges always intertwine with opportunities for nations aspiring for autonomy and advancement.
To realize the goal of double-digit growth and the two centenary goals, Vietnam is determined to maintain macroeconomic stability, proactively respond to external shocks, and leverage science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and modern financial infrastructure as key growth drivers. Additionally, improving institutions, creating a conducive environment for innovation, and enhancing national competitiveness are seen as crucial factors for Vietnam to engage more deeply in global supply and value chains.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang expressed confidence that the success of VLP 2026 will continue to strengthen the knowledge bridge, thereby contributing to the increasingly profound and substantive development of the Vietnam-U.S. Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang speaks at the closing session of the Vietnam Leadership Program 2026 at Columbia University, USA. (Photo: VNA) |
Speaking at the closing session, Columbia University Executive Vice President Amy Hungerford praised the candid, substantive, and multi-dimensional exchanges within the Program.
She emphasized Columbia University's role in promoting dialogue, connecting policymakers, scholars, and businesses, and affirmed the university's commitment to long-term cooperation with Vietnam, enhancing teaching and research activities, and viewing VLP 2026 as a starting point for sustainable dialogue and cooperation between the two sides.
During the discussions, American professors and experts highly valued Vietnam's development potential, asserting that mastering technology and building modern digital financial infrastructure could provide additional impetus to enhance labor productivity and national competitiveness.
Based on this, scholars recommended that Vietnam proactively apply AI and data technology to enhance autonomy; establish pioneering institutional frameworks for innovation, develop foundational technologies, and safely manage fintech models; reform the capital market in conjunction with modernizing the banking system to improve resource allocation efficiency, ensuring high growth alongside macroeconomic stability.
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| Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang exchanges with American experts and scholars within the framework of the Vietnam Leadership Program 2026. (Photo: VNA) |
During the working sessions, the Deputy Prime Minister and members of the Vietnamese delegation shared perspectives, visions, development orientations, and specific solutions of Vietnam.
The delegation emphasized that strengthening internal resources and enhancing strategic autonomy play a decisive role, while proactively leveraging breakthrough international resources to maintain macroeconomic stability, improve institutions, and harness new growth drivers, laying the foundation for achieving national development goals.
Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Van Thang urged ministries, agencies, and delegation members to study and distill valuable recommendations from the Program to advise the Government in macroeconomic management and socio-economic development policy planning.
