Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh (R) shakes hands with Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala. (Photo: VNA) At the meeting, PM Chinh spoke highly of the role andefforts of the WTO Director-General in managing and promoting the organisation’s activities,and congratulated Okonjo-Iweala on her remarkable achievements since she took office in March 2021.
He shared Vietnam’s successes, stressing that the nation is consistentwith its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, peace, friendship,cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralisation of relations,and extensive and comprehensive international integration.
According to the PM, after more than 35 years of its renewal (Doi moi), Vietnam'seconomy reached 409 billion USD, with per capita income increasing to4,100 USD from 160 USD. Vietnam has been among 20 leading economies interms of international trade. The country signed about 100 bilateral andmultilateral trade agreements and over 60 investment protection and encouragement deals.
As a responsible member of the WTO, Vietnamadvocates promoting its active role in the WTO's cooperation frameworks,strives to fulfill its commitments and make positive contributions to issues ofcommon concern of the organisation, he affirmed.
Vietnam has always supported an open, transparent, fair andrules-based multilateral trade system in which the WTO plays a central role inpromoting trade and investment, and helping countries effectively respond to challenges,PM Chinh said.
He expressed his hope that the WTO will continue its support formember countries to seize opportunities from shifting trends and reshape supplychains, production, and investment, especially developing and underdevelopedcountries.
The government leader suggested the WTO continue to strongly and practically reform itself to affirm its role as a foundation for the transparent and fair multilateral trade system thatbrings practical benefits to countries, including Vietnam.
Vietnam is willing to share its experience in fulfilling its WTO accession commitments; promoting trade growth, socio-economicdevelopment, poverty reduction, and inequality reduction in society, and women'sempowerment, he said, adding that the nation is ready to coordinate with other WTO members to contribute practical and effectivelyto the organisation’s activities in the coming time.
The PM hoped that the Director-General and WTO will continue its cooperation and financialand technical assistance programmes for Vietnam to help the Southeast Asiannation improve the efficiency of international economic integration.
For her part, Okonjo-Iweala congratulated Vietnam on itssocio-economic development achievements, saying that the country’s successes have inspired and provided experience for many countries around the world.
While the world economy has faced many difficulties andchallenges, Vietnam's economy has been still growing at a relatively high rate becausethe country has operated financial and monetary policies flexibly and effectively, the WTO Director-General said.
She agreed with PM Chinh’s views on the WTO’s reform as well asstrengthening cooperation between the organisation and Vietnam, saying that theWTO wants to cooperate with the country in developing green economy, digitaleconomy, and inclusive economy, and in caring for vulnerable groups, womenand children so that no one is left behind./.
VNA
