Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh attends the ceremony to announce the Index for evaluating the implementation results of free trade agreements (FTA Index) of localities in 2024 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Also attending were members of the Central Committee of the Party: Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien; leaders of ministries, sectors, and localities; ambassadors; representatives of international organizations; and the business community.

The program, chaired by the Ministry of Industry and Trade in coordination with the Government Office and relevant agencies, connects online from the Government headquarters to the People's Committees of provinces and centrally-administered cities.

According to a report by the Ministry of Industry and Trade, by early 2025, there will be approximately 328 effective Free Trade Agreements (FTAs) worldwide, a significant increase from 98 FTAs ​​in 2000. To date, Vietnam has signed and implemented 17 FTAs ​​with many major partners around the world, including new generation FTAs ​​such as CPTPP, EVFTA, and UKVFTA.

The FTA Index 2024 was developed under the direction of the Prime Minister and is the result of close and effective coordination efforts between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and other ministries, sectors, localities, industry associations, and businesses. Its aim is to further enhance the effectiveness of Vietnam's FTA implementation, contributing to the successful achievement of the economic growth, investment, and trade targets set by the Party, State, and Government of Vietnam.

The survey focuses on four main aspects: the level of access to information about FTAs ​​by businesses; the situation regarding compliance with domestic legal regulations resulting from FTA commitments; the effectiveness of programs and policies supporting businesses in leveraging FTAs; and the implementation of sustainable development commitments at the local level, while also noting the difficulties and obstacles that businesses are facing.

The FTA Index is a composite score of four component indices on a 10-point scale, aggregated to a 40-point scale. The results show that the province with the highest composite score achieved 34.90 points, while the province with the lowest score only reached 14.49 points. The average composite score was 26.20 points, and the median was 20.40 points.

At the event, the Prime Minister awarded Certificates of Merit to five provinces and cities that had achieved outstanding results in evaluating the implementation of free trade agreements (FTA Index) in 2024, including Ca Mau, Thanh Hoa, Binh Duong, Ho Chi Minh City, and Hai Phong City.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien speaks at the announcement ceremony - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

"Integration is not just about red carpets and roses."

Speaking at the announcement ceremony, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and related agencies in the first-ever development and implementation of the FTA Index, affirming Vietnam's professionalism in the integration process; and thanked international partners for their support and cooperation in the development and implementation of this index.

According to the Prime Minister, this is a new, quantitative and systematic tool, based on surveys of businesses in all 63 provinces and cities nationwide, aiming to provide a transparent and objective database for the Government, central and local agencies in directing, supervising, and managing integration efforts; and at the same time, serving as a basis for formulating policies and development strategies suitable to the conditions and potential of each locality, contributing to promoting the traditional growth driver of exports and moving towards sustainable exports.

The Prime Minister stated that, in implementing the Doi Moi (Renovation) process over the past nearly 40 years, alongside focusing on rapid and sustainable socio-economic development, environmental protection, strengthening national defense, security, and social order, Vietnam has consistently adhered to an independent, self-reliant, peaceful, friendly, cooperative, and developmental foreign policy, diversifying and multilateralizing its foreign policy, being a friend, a reliable partner, and a responsible member of the international community; building an independent and self-reliant economy coupled with proactive and effective deep and substantive international integration.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh highly appreciated the efforts of the Ministry of Industry and Trade and related agencies in the first-ever development and publication of the FTA Index - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

Most recently, the Politburo issued Resolution No. 59/NQ-TW on international integration in the new situation, with many new points, demonstrating a breakthrough spirit; in which it identifies international integration as "a high form and level of development of international cooperation," an important driving force for maintaining peace and stability, taking advantage of external conditions and resources for development and enhancing the role and position of the nation, demonstrating Vietnam's responsibility and contribution to the international community.

The Prime Minister stated that Vietnam identifies internal resources as fundamental, strategic, long-term, and decisive, while external resources are important and breakthrough; striving to rise strongly with a spirit of self-reliance, self-strength, self-determination, self-confidence, and national pride; rising from its own hands and minds, from its own sky, sea, and land, with the core values ​​of the Vietnamese people, with its cultural and historical traditions, its thousand-year-old civilization, and the spirit of national unity.

The Prime Minister emphasized the importance of avoiding complacency, negligence, and pessimism or fear under any circumstances, because the current difficulties are still not as great as those Vietnam has faced in the past, and the greater the difficulties, challenges, and pressures, the more effort and striving we must make to overcome them.

Integration requires both cooperation and struggle, while respecting the fundamental principles of the United Nations Charter and international law, and adapting flexibly, appropriately, promptly, and effectively to the situation and the negative aspects of integration.

"Integration is not just a red carpet and roses; it faces many difficulties and challenges. We must strive to catch up, move forward, and surpass others in order to achieve deep, substantive, and effective integration, while simultaneously maintaining independence and self-reliance."

We respect the independence and sovereignty of other countries, do not interfere in their internal affairs, and respect and listen to the opinions of our partners. We are grateful for and appreciate the assistance of our international friends, and welcome all partners who come to us with goodwill and cooperation for mutual benefit, bringing happiness and prosperity to the people of both sides. However, we do not accept integration at all costs, nor do we rely on or depend on any single partner.

"The Vietnamese Party and State always uphold the spirit of harmonious interests and shared risks. We do not ignore any assistance, nor do we exploit or harm anyone; we avoid confrontation and promote dialogue," the Prime Minister emphasized.

Maximize but avoid dependence on FTAs.

According to the Prime Minister, Vietnam considers international economic integration – especially through FTAs ​​– as a crucial gateway connecting Vietnam with the world, based on the principle of harmonizing benefits and sharing risks. The 17 FTAs ​​signed with over 60 leading economies demonstrate Vietnam's role and position, and also show the trust of the international community in Vietnam.

The effective implementation and enforcement of FTAs ​​is not only about fulfilling Vietnam's international commitments, but also about driving domestic reforms, expanding markets for goods and services, and enhancing the competitiveness of the economy.

In recent years, international economic integration and participation in FTAs ​​have yielded positive results, making a significant contribution to achieving socio-economic development goals; in 2024 alone, total import and export turnover reached nearly 800 billion USD, helping Vietnam transform from a poor country into a developing nation, connecting with countries around the world. At the same time, the process of international economic integration still faces many difficulties and obstacles, posing numerous new challenges.

The Prime Minister assessed that, in this context, the FTA Index is an important tool to measure the level of implementation and utilization of FTAs ​​by localities, thereby contributing to building a basis for the National Assembly, the Government, and ministries and sectors to comprehensively assess the strengths and weaknesses in the process of implementing FTAs.

The FTA Index also reflects the effectiveness of policies supporting businesses, demonstrating coordination between the central and local governments. Through this, agencies can formulate appropriate policies to optimize the benefits from FTAs, especially as these agreements become increasingly comprehensive and have a profound impact on the economy.

The FTA Index assesses the effectiveness of implementing international commitments at the local level and contributes to promoting growth momentum, especially export and investment momentum. On this occasion, the Prime Minister congratulated the localities on their high achievements and results and urged them to continue striving and competing to effectively implement FTAs, fulfill commitments, and enhance the reputation and improve the business environment for their localities and the whole country.

The Prime Minister awarded Certificates of Commendation to 5 provinces and cities for their achievements in evaluating the implementation results of free trade agreements (FTA Index) in 2024 - Photo: VGP/Nhat Bac

The Prime Minister emphasized that Vietnam is entering a new era – an era of striving for national development, prosperity, civilization, and well-being, standing shoulder to shoulder with the world's leading powers, and a people that is increasingly prosperous and happy. In this process, Vietnam continues to promote international solidarity, uphold multilateralism, and highly value international cooperation and integration.

The Prime Minister stated that the Government will continue to promote solutions to maximize the benefits from signed FTAs, improve the quality of international commitment implementation, expand markets, and sign new FTAs ​​with potential partners.

According to the Prime Minister, exports are an important but not the only driver of growth; other important drivers need to be expanded and promoted. The 17 signed FTAs ​​are important, but Vietnam should not be entirely dependent on these markets but must also expand into other markets with great potential.

Ministries, departments, and localities must continue to promote the spirit of self-reliance and self-improvement, reduce administrative procedures, minimize inconvenience, time, and costs for citizens and businesses, and create a transparent and attractive investment and business environment.

In particular, in the current context, to overcome difficulties and challenges and turn them into opportunities and advantages, the Government, ministries, localities, the business community, and the people must all contribute to combining national strength with the strength of the times. Difficulties in one area must be addressed elsewhere, expanding into other markets, diversifying markets, products, and supply chains, restructuring production and business towards a green and clean direction, improving productivity, competitiveness, and product quality, reducing costs and prices, developing raw material areas, innovating designs and packaging, combating origin fraud, and protecting intellectual property rights…

The Prime Minister expressed his desire to continue receiving the involvement and support of businesses, the people, and especially the cooperation and assistance of international partners in the process of integration in general and the implementation of FTAs ​​in particular, especially in terms of capital, technology, human resource training, and management.

The Prime Minister also stated that Vietnam is a model in international relations, setting aside the past, overcoming differences, promoting similarities, and looking towards the future to turn enemies into friends. Vietnam is also a developing country, still struggling to overcome the severe consequences of years of war and embargoes; therefore, the Prime Minister requested that international friends and partners continue to share, support, and assist Vietnam.

The head of government affirmed that Vietnam always listens, understands, and shares with its partners to work together, win together, enjoy together, and develop together with the spirit of "not saying no, not saying it's difficult, not saying yes without doing it," and that what is said must be done, commitments must be fulfilled, and actions must yield measurable results and benefits for all parties involved.

According to baochinhphu.vn

Source: https://huengaynay.vn/chinh-polit-xa-hoi/theo-dong-thoi-su/thu-tuong-giu-vung-doc-lap-tu-chu-tranh-doi-dau-day-manh-doi-thoai-trong-hoi-nhap-152399.html