A seminar on international economic integration and issues concerning Vietnam opened in Hanoi on March 16.

The seminar focused on Free Trade Agreements (FTA) and Vietnam’s issues for the 2011-2020 period, as well as issues around ASEAN integration.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Minister and Director of the Government Office said that suggestions at the event would contribute to perfecting a negotiation strategy for the FTA from now until 2020.

Most of delegates agreed that the goal of Vietnam’s accession to FTA was to bring the country into global value chains, the important content of the future FTA negotiation strategy.

In terms of ASEAN integration, some delegates suggested that Vietnam should cooperate with ASEAN proactively and responsibly by proposing suitable initiatives as well as closely combining multilateral with bilateral diplomacy in promoting important goals in foreign affairs.

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Cam Tu said that besides the significant advantages of ASEAN integration, Vietnam will face challenges such as competitive pressure on domestic goods, especially electrical and electronic goods and mobile phones, as well as insufficient legal mechanisms.

He also urged more changes in awareness and action when Vietnam integrates into the ASEAN economic community, which is the most important political guideline of ASEAN in recent times./.