Vietnam supports WTO reform to benefit all stakeholders
VOV.VN - Vietnam expects that the World Trade Oraganisation will continue its reform programme with the multilateral trading system forming the core so as to bring practical benefits to all countries, especially developing and underdeveloped ones, including Vietnam.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was speaking while receiving WTO Director-General Ngozi Okonjo-Iweal in Hanoi on May 18.
The WTO reform process should take into account rights, obligations, development levels, and enforcement capacity of its members, especially underdeveloped and developing members, said the PM.
He voiced Vietnam’s support for an open, transparent, fair and rules-based multilateral trading system with the WTO playing a central role in promoting trade and investment, while effectively responding to challenges faced by countries in terms of connecting supply chains, removing tariff barriers, combating trade protectionism, as well as enhancing trade exchanges amid global uncertainties.
He affirmed that Vietnam is willing to share its experience in fulfilling its commitments to the WTO, by promoting trade growth, socio-economic development, hunger eradication and poverty reduction, and inequality in society, while fostering women’s empowerment in the economy.
Vietnam will work closely alongside other WTO members to make a substantive and effective contribution to the organisation’s activities, including realizing commitments of the 12th WTO Ministerial Conference in June 2022, and handling major outstanding issues between the WTO and its member countries, he assured his guest.
The PM hoped that the WTO Director-General would continue to support the WTO’s cooperation programmes and its financial and technical assistance for Vietnam to help the country improve the efficiency of international economic integration.
Dr. Okonjo-Iweal for her part congratulated Vietnam’s socio-economic development achievements, saying its success story has inspired many countries around the world, especially in the field of external economic relations for national development.
She praised Vietnam for its efforts in recording relatively high economic growth and maintaining the macro-economic stability amid the recent global economic turmoil.
She agreed with the Prime Minister’s view regarding the WTO reform and expressed the organisation’s desire to cooperate with Vietnam in developing green economy, digital economy, inclusive economy, while caring for the vulnerable, women and children to ensure no one is left behind.