On November 30, 2023, at MoHA Headquarters, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MoHA) of Viet Nam, in coordination with the Ministry of Transformation and Public Service of the French Republic, organized an International Seminar to share experiences on the modernization of public service and administrative reform and improving digital transformation capabilities. Minister of Home Affairs of Viet Nam Pham Thi Thanh Tra and Minister of Transformation and Public Service of the French Republic Stanislas Guerini attended and delivered speeches at the Seminar.
Minister of Home Affairs of Viet Nam Pham Thi Thanh Tra and Minister of Transformation and Public Service of the French Republic Stanislas Guerini at the Seminar.
Co-chairing and moderating the Seminar, on the side of MoHA, were Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trieu Van Cuong, Vice Minister of Home Affairs; Mr. Le Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute for State Organizational Sciences (MoHA). On the side of the French Republic, there were Ms. Nathalie Green, Deputy Director for statutory synthesis, governance and partnerships, Directorate General for Administration and Civil Service (DGAFP); Ms. Stéphanie Schaer, Director General of the Interministerial Digital Directorate (DINUM).
Attending the Seminar were Vice Minister of Home Affairs of Viet Nam Vu Chien Thang; Mr. Olivier Brochet, Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the French Republic in Viet Nam, and officials of the French Embassy in Viet Nam and members of the delegation of the Ministry of Transformation and Public Service of the French Republic; experts and managers from ministries and central branches who participated in the Seminar; leaders and senior specialists of MoHA units.
Minister of Home Affairs of Viet Nam Pham Thi Thanh Tra delivering the opening speech at the Seminar.
Speaking at the opening of the Seminar, Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra emphasized that the Seminar is being held at a historically significant time, as one of the cooperative activities between MoHA of Viet Nam and the Ministry of Transformation and Public Service of the French Republic, marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and France (1973 – 2023), and the 10th anniversary of the two countries upgrading their strategic partnership (2013 – 2023). Over the past 50 years, despite historical fluctuations, the friendly relations and fruitful cooperation between Viet Nam and France have become increasingly solid, deepening into comprehensive, diverse, and effective cooperation in all areas, including issues related to the modernization of public administration, administrative reform, and the improvement of digital transformation capabilities.
According to Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, the modernization of the public service, administrative reform, and digital transformation have become an inevitable trend and a goal, as well as a driving force for the development of every country in the context of the rapid development of the Fourth Industrial Revolution. In recent years, Viet Nam has consistently advocated for the acceleration of administrative reform and the modernization of public administration, considering it a breakthrough for national development. The goal of modernizing the public service and administrative reform is to build a democratic, professional, modern, streamlined, effective, efficient, enabling and integrity-oriented administration that serves people. Administrative reform is always associated with innovative thinking and creative actions, changing working practices, applying advanced and modern management methods, and effectively utilizing scientific and technological advancements to promote digital technology applications and digitization in the activities of state administrative agencies. Administrative reform must be based on the interests of the people and businesses, with the legitimate and just rights and interests of the people and businesses at the center, promoting innovative and creative changes, and ensuring the requirements for rapid and sustainable national development.
Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra stated that at this Seminar, with the spirit of scientific exchange, openness, and sincerity, the desire is to listen to the opinions of experts, scientists, and managers from both countries, focusing on evaluating the achievements and results, difficulties and challenges in the process of modernizing the public service, administrative reform, and improving digital transformation capabilities in both Viet Nam and the French Republic. At the same time, sharing good experiences, innovative approaches, as well as policy orientation and coordinated activities to jointly build a professional, modern, streamlined, effective and efficient administration. The discussion will focus on how to strongly innovate working methods, improve productivity, and enhance the operational efficiency of state administrative agencies to meet the requirements of rapid and sustainable development. How to apply scientific and technological advances to quickly and effectively promote the development of an e-Government, a digital government, and enhance the digital transformation capabilities of the public officials?
These will be significant questions for scientists, experts, and managers to exchange and discuss. The Minister believes that after this Seminar, there will be new knowledge, valuable experiences, and profound insights contributing to the process of modernizing the public service, administrative reform, and improving the digital transformation capabilities in both countries.
Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra believes that this Seminar will help connect and strengthen the friendly relations and cooperation between Viet Nam and the French Republic. Based on the foundation of this cooperative and deep-rooted friendship, in the future, the MoHA of Viet Nam and the Ministry of Transformation and Public Service of the French Republic will continue to leverage and promote the results of cooperation. They will increase professional exchange activities, share good practical experiences, and promote the process of modernizing the public service, administrative reform, and improving digital transformation capabilities in each country.
Minister of Transformation and Public Service of the French Republic Stanislas Guerini delivering a welcome speech at the Seminar.
In his welcome speech at the Seminar, Minister of Transformation and Public Service of the French Republic Stanislas Guerini highly appreciated the Seminar. He considered this a condition for the two ministries to exchange and share knowledge and experiences on modernizing public service, administrative reform and improving digital transformation capabilities, as outlined in the cooperation agreement between the two sides since 2022.
Minister Stanislas Guerini mentioned that, during the Seminar, French speakers will exchange and share several topics with MoHa of Viet Nam. These include the transformation and public services in France, with a presentation on the Public Services+ program aimed at promoting modern public administration. The presentation will focus on the development of management practices to build trustworthy and accountable relationships, emphasizing the responsibility of public servants. Other topics include experiences of France in professionalizing the human resources sector, recruitment methods in the French public service, management and oversight approaches of the French government’s priority policies and development path of public services in France, three key programs (Public Action Barometer, Public service+, and Approach of public services based on “life events”, priorities of the French government in digital transformation, roadmap and four priorities of DINUM, exemplary projects in digitizing public services/digital public services of the French State, and human resources in the digital sector of the French State.
Minister Stanislas Guerini hopes that the high-quality presentations and discussions at the Seminar will bring meaningful experiences and practices for both sides to learn from. He sees this as a foundation to further elevate and strengthen the relationship between the two ministries.
At the Seminar, the Ministry of Home Affairs of Viet Nam presentations and experiences were shared on some topics, such as innovation in public service recruitment in the current period, intensifying administrative reforms towards the satisfaction of the people and organizations, etc.
Minister Pham Thi Thanh Tra, Minister Stanislas Guerini with delegates at the Seminar.
Vice Minister of Home Affairs of Viet Nam Trieu Van Cuong speaking at the Seminar.
In his closing remarks at the Seminar, Vice Minister Trieu Van Cuong emphasized that delegates had spent time sharing in a journey of knowledge and experience at the Seminar “Sharing experiences on the modernization of the public service, administrative reform, and capacity building for digital transformation” between the Ministry of Home Affairs of Viet Nam and the Ministry of Transformation and Public Affairs of the French Republic. Delegates have had the opportunity to listen to diverse insights from speakers and individuals with knowledge and practical experience in modernizing public administration, administrative reform, and enhancing digital transformation capabilities.
Vice Minister Trieu Van Cuong stated that during the Seminar, the Organizing Committee received responsible and valuable insights from leading experts, excellent researchers, scholars, and managers in the field of public service modernization, administrative reform, and digital transformation. These valuable experiences are not only a source of encouragement but also a source of motivation for participants to progress further in their journey.
On the other hand, it cannot be denied that challenges in modernizing the public service, administrative reform, and digital transformation are still significant. However, with collaboration, willpower, and determination, we can overcome all difficulties and create positive changes. Both Viet Nam and the French Republic have the potential and opportunities to develop better management systems and public services, bringing benefits to the people and society.
Vice Minister Trieu Van Cuong also expressed sincere gratitude for the companionship and support from the Ministry of Transformation and Public Service of the French Republic, speakers, and delegates who contributed to the success of this event. He hopes that the connections and cooperation built during this Seminar continue to grow and bring about genuine value.
Assoc. Prof. Dr. Trieu Van Cuong, Vice Minister of Home Affairs of Viet Nam; Mr. Le Anh Tuan, Director of the Institute for State Organizational Sciences, MoHA; Ms. Nathalie Green and Ms. Stéphanie Schaer co-chairing the Seminar.
An overview of the Seminar.
