Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien held a bilateral meeting with WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo – Iweala on the sidelines of the 31st APEC Ministerial Meeting on Trade (MRT 31)

At the meeting, Minister Nguyen Hong Dien affirmed that Vietnam always respects and supports the multilateral trading system and requested the WTO to promote its central role in maintaining the global trade order, emphasizing the need to strictly comply with international commitments. Accordingly, the Minister said that the WTO needs to be comprehensively reformed to consolidate and promote its role and adapt to changes in the current world economic situation.

The Minister also affirmed that Vietnam is ready to continue to cooperate closely with other WTO members in promoting discussions on initiatives and solutions to reform the WTO to be submitted to Ministers for approval at the 14th WTO Ministerial Conference scheduled to take place in March 2026 in Cameroon.

WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo – Iweala highly appreciated and supported Vietnam's viewpoints and proposals, and expressed his belief that with the efforts and close cooperation of member countries, including Vietnam, the MC14 Conference will achieve positive and substantive results, contributing to the consolidation and promotion of the WTO's role in global trade, while bringing benefits to all member countries.

WTO Director General Ngozi Okonjo - Iweala highly appreciated and supported Vietnam's viewpoints and proposals.

Minister Nguyen Hong Dien said that the WTO needs to be comprehensively reformed to strengthen and promote its role and adapt to changes in the current world economic situation.

The two leaders believe that the APEC Trade Ministers' Meeting will reach common agreements, contributing to promoting economic development of the members.

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Source: https://moit.gov.vn/tin-tuc/hoat-dong/hoat-dong-cua-lanh-dao-bo/bo-truong-bo-cong-thuong-nguyen-hong-dien-hop-song-phuong-voi-tong-giam-doc-wto-ngozi-okonjo-iweala-ben-le-hoi-nghi-bo-t.html