Government officials, scholars and businessmen from many countries will take part in a conference with the theme “Identifying challenges of Asia and the role of Vietnam” in HCM City, from April 22-24.

What will be Vietnam’s develop direction after crisis?

There will be eight discussion sessions with the participation of Vietnamese leaders, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Japan, the US, scholars and businessmen.

Topics for discussion will include: impacts of the sudden changes due to the economic crisis and the power-shifts of countries, and how Asian countries will adapt; consequences of the US’ economic regression; and an assesment of the impacts of the reaction to the new US administration on Asia.

For Vietnam, what is a suitable remedy for its export-based economy? If the country further integrates into the world economy, what will be its policies? How is the country developing and what does Vietnam need to do to pursue its selected direction?

After this current crisis, will Vietnam become a Thailand or an Indonesia after the financial crisis 1997?

What models of development should Vietnam learn from? What economic policies should the country pursue to achieve its ambitions and goals of development?

This is the 19^th Asian cooperation conference held by Asia Society.

Hoang Phuong