Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien, Head of the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee on International Economic Integration, chaired the first meeting of the Steering Committee.
Speaking at the session, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien expressed his confidence that the Steering Committee would maximize the cohesion, synchronization, and effective coordination among ministries, sectors, and localities, thereby successfully implementing international economic integration tasks and making practical contributions to the rapid and sustainable development of the country.
Minister Nguyen Hong Dien requested that each member of the Steering Committee act as both a focal point and a bridge in their assigned field, thereby creating unity in direction and consensus in implementation. This is the core value and also the greatest advantage of the inter-ministerial Steering Committee mechanism.
At the meeting, members of the Steering Committee and participating delegates frankly shared their views and contributed specific and practical opinions; demonstrating that ministries, sectors, and localities have made many efforts in concretizing the Party and Government 's guidelines and resolutions, linking the task of international economic integration with the socio-economic development strategy of each sector and locality; and at the same time, coordinating closely in implementing free trade agreements, creating favorable conditions for businesses to access markets, expand exports, attract investment, and promote domestic institutional reforms.
However, the Steering Committee members also acknowledged that the immediate situation still presents many difficulties and challenges, in the context of rapidly changing and complex global and regional developments. Trade conflicts, strategic competition between major powers, emerging issues such as tariffs with the United States, trade defense lawsuits, the EU's green technical barriers, and new requirements for sustainable development... are posing problems that need to be addressed in both the short and long term.
The first meeting of the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee on International Economic Integration.
Elevating the process of international economic integration.
Consolidating the opinions expressed at the meeting, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien stated that, after 18 years since Vietnam joined the WTO in 2007, the Vietnamese economy has affirmed its position on the world map.
However, the Minister acknowledged that Vietnam's international economic integration cannot be measured solely by the openness of the economy, the number of FTAs signed, or the amount of FDI invested in Vietnam, or even by the annual increase in import and export turnover. Instead, it must depend on the internal capacity of the country's economy and the participation of Vietnamese businesses in global production and supply chains.
Vietnam has been successful in attracting investment and negotiating and signing FTAs, but the benefits Vietnam has received from the integration process have not been as expected. This requires us to elevate the level of international economic integration.
To effectively implement the tasks set forth, and to enhance the role of inter-sectoral coordinating agencies, the Minister requested that members of the Inter-sectoral Steering Committee, ministries, sectors, and localities organize the synchronized implementation in the coming period, ensuring the progress and quality of the tasks assigned in Resolution No. 153/NQ-CP dated May 31, 2025, which promulgates the Government's Action Program to implement Resolution 59-NQ/TW of the Politburo on international integration in the new situation.
Furthermore, we will continue to effectively negotiate and implement FTAs according to the orientations and solutions outlined in Decision No. 112/QD-CP of 2025 by the Prime Minister, which approves the orientation for participation in FTAs until 2030, with a vision to 2035. We will focus on addressing existing issues to effectively utilize the 17 signed trade agreements/arrangements, and continue to promote the expansion and diversification of export markets by researching new, potential markets with remaining room for exploitation in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America. Simultaneously, we will promote negotiations on new free trade agreements, such as initiating negotiations for a Preferential Trade Agreement (PTA) with Pakistan; and carrying out the necessary procedures to initiate negotiations for FTAs with the GCC and Mercosur.
The Minister also emphasized the need to prioritize focusing resources on continuing reciprocal trade negotiations with the United States to achieve the most favorable commitments for Vietnam, aiming for a comprehensive, fair, balanced, and sustainable trade agreement.
Focus on providing warnings and recommendations to localities, industry associations, and businesses on timely and appropriate responses to US tariff policies. Strengthen efforts to identify and promptly resolve difficulties and obstacles, and support localities, industry associations, and businesses engaged in import and export trade with the United States.
The Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee on International Economic Integration consists of 15 members, with the Chairman being the Minister of Industry and Trade, Nguyen Hong Dien; the Vice Chairman is the Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade, Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan, who serves as the permanent chairman;
The 13 members are deputy ministerial-level leaders from 9 ministries and ministerial-level agencies (Foreign Affairs, Public Security, Finance, Science and Technology, Agriculture and Environment, Construction, Culture, Sports and Tourism, Justice, and the State Bank of Vietnam), along with 4 Vice Chairmen of the People's Committees of cities (Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Hai Phong, and Da Nang).
Anh Tho
Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/ban-chi-dao-lien-nganh-hoi-nhap-quoc-te-ve-kinh-te-hop-phien-dau-tien-102251009153130455.htm
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