International economic integration work of 2008 and 2009 was reviewed at a conference in Hanoi on Dec. 23.

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister Pham Gia Khiem, who is also Chairman of the National Committee for International Economic Integration (NCIEI), said that 2008 and 2009 reflected the vivid panorama of the country’s economic integration in the context of complex global economy.

Vietnam has strictly abided by its WTO pledges in all fields, including legal reform, finance and intellectual property. Meanwhile, the nation has actively taken part in Doha negotiations and joined other developing nations to help solve the global financial crisis.

During the nation’s renewal and international economic integration process, Vietnam has set up bilateral ties with more than 170 countries in the world and exported goods to more than 230 countries and territories.

The nation has also signed more than 90 bilateral trade agreements, almost 60 agreements on trade promotion and encouragement, 54 agreements on the avoidance of double taxations and a number of bilateral cultural cooperation agreements with countries and international organisations.

Additionally, Vietnam has actively developed multilateral and regional cooperative relations.

Talking with the press, Minister of Trade Vu Huy Hoang affirmed that international economic integration has become an essential factor for Vietnam to attract foreign investment, promote trade and economic for the nation and raise Vietnam’s prestige on the international arena.

According to Deputy Trade Minister Nguyen Cam Tu, who is also NCIEI General Secretary, international economic integration work will focus on consolidating international economic integration committees, taking part in open market negotiations and implementing its pledges of international economic integration.

The key task of international economic integration is to mobilise other members of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) to recognise it as a nation with a marketable economy and facilitate Vietnamese goods exports without being hindered by technical barriers, said the Ministry of Trade.

At present, 26 economies have recognised Vietnam as a full market economy./.