Italian and Vietnamese experts have held a seminar on Vietnam's integration into the world economy at Bocconi University in the Italian industrial city of Milan.

The conference, under the “Project for providing technical assistance for institutional enhancement to facilitate Vietnam’s accession to the World Trade Organization” funded by the Italian government, was attended by Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Van Nam, professors and students from Bocconi University, representatives from the Milan Chamber of Commerce, and a Vietnamese delegation from various ministries and branches.

At the conference, Italian professors introduced the legal procedures for entering the WTO, positive effects as well as challenges faced by Vietnam when becoming a member of the WTO, and Vietnam's economic situation over recent years. They stressed that Vietnam is an open market economy and a potential market for trade and foreign investment, adding that the two sides have a great opportunity to promote co-operation thanks to similarities in their economic structures.

Ambassador Nguyen Van Nam introduced Vietnam's process of integration into the world economy, as well as the country's policies on foreign investment. He also spoke of Vietnam's potential, advantages, and trade and investment opportunities for its partners, particularly Italy.

Answering participants' questions about the European Commission's decision to apply temporary tariff rates on Vietnamese leather shoe imports, the Ambassador stressed that the EC's unfair move would have negative impacts on thousands of Vietnamese workers, mostly poor and women workers, in the industry.

On this occasion, Ambassador Nam paid a visit to Bolzano province and held talks with the provincial governor Luis Durnwalder. Bolzano province has great potential for tourism, forest products and mineral ores, and has helped Vietnam build a training centre and a waste treatment facility. Governor Durnwalder said that the province is willing to co-operate with Vietnam in its strong economic fields.