Speaking at the Conference, Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan welcomed, acknowledged, and highly appreciated the proactive spirit, responsibility, and important results achieved by the Office of the Steering Committee for International Economic Integration in 2025, especially in the context of a large workload, high professional requirements, and a complex and unpredictable international economic and trade situation. The leadership and staff of the Office have successfully fulfilled their roles as a coordinating agency, assisting the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee for International Economic Integration and the Government's negotiating team on international economic and trade affairs.
Key milestones in 2025
Reporting at the Conference, the leader of the Steering Committee for International Economic Cooperation stated that in 2025, under the direct and regular guidance of the Ministry of Industry and Trade's leadership, the Steering Committee for International Economic Cooperation made concerted efforts to implement assigned tasks, ensuring progress and quality, and achieving many important and comprehensive results in all areas of work.
First and foremost, the Office of the National Steering Committee for International Economic Integration has effectively fulfilled its role in advising on the consolidation of inter-sectoral coordination mechanisms for international economic integration and international economic and trade negotiations. Based on Decision No. 1812/QD-TTg dated August 25, 2025, of the Prime Minister on the consolidation of the National Steering Committee for International Economic Integration, the Office advised the Inter-sectoral Steering Committee for International Economic Integration on the consolidation of its members, the issuance of its operational regulations, the development of a work plan for the 2025-2026 period, and the successful organization of the inaugural meeting of the newly consolidated Steering Committee. The consolidation of the organization and the improvement of the operational mechanism have significantly contributed to enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency of inter-sectoral guidance and coordination in the field of international economic integration.
Simultaneously, the Office of the Steering Committee for International Economic Integration has effectively played its role as a focal point in implementing important resolutions and directives of the Party, the National Assembly, and the Government on international economic integration. In 2025, the Office actively participated in the process of drafting Resolution 250/2025/QH15 of the National Assembly on a number of specific mechanisms and policies to enhance the effectiveness of international integration, acting as the focal unit of the Ministry of Industry and Trade to synthesize opinions, participate in reviewing and finalizing the draft Resolution, ensuring that the mechanisms and policies both facilitate businesses and are consistent with Vietnam's international commitments within the framework of the WTO and FTAs.
In particular, the Office of the Steering Committee for International Economic Cooperation (FOCC) has chaired and coordinated with ministries and units within the Ministry of Industry and Trade to develop and submit to the Prime Minister for promulgation Decision No. 112/QD-TTg dated June 19, 2025, approving the Orientation for participation in free trade agreements until 2030, with a vision to 2035. This is a strategically significant document in guiding and directing Vietnam's participation in FTAs in the current and future periods.
In addition, the Office of the Steering Committee for International Economic Integration participated in the drafting of Government Resolution No. 153/NQ-CP dated May 31, 2025, promulgating the Action Program to implement Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW of the Politburo; compiled reports on the implementation of Directive No. 38/CT-TTg on strengthening the implementation and effective exploitation of FTAs; and simultaneously prepared the Report summarizing international economic integration work in 2025 and outlining the work plan for 2026, promptly serving the guidance and management work of the Government and the Prime Minister.
As the supporting agency for the Government's negotiating delegation on international economic and trade affairs, in 2025, the Office of the Steering Committee for International Economic Cooperation closely coordinated with relevant ministries and agencies to effectively organize and support the negotiation, signing, and implementation of FTAs and international economic cooperation initiatives. During the year, the Office organized 61 activities to participate in meetings and negotiations abroad, fulfilling its membership obligations within the framework of FTAs and multilateral economic and trade cooperation mechanisms.
Notably, the Office coordinated five rounds of bilateral negotiations with the United States to promote a reciprocal, fair, and balanced trade agreement; participated in the establishment and support of the Vietnam-Pakistan Preferential Trade Agreement negotiating team; and coordinated the completion and signing of protocols to upgrade important FTAs such as ACFTA 3.0, ATIGA, and AITIGA, thereby contributing to expanding market space, strengthening supply chains, and enhancing the effectiveness of Vietnam's international economic integration.
In addition, the Office of the Steering Committee for International Economic Cooperation has coordinated and participated in the development and implementation of economic cooperation contents within ASEAN and ASEAN+, fulfilling Vietnam's coordinating role in ASEAN-EU economic relations; actively participating in WTO activities, affirming Vietnam as an active and responsible member of the multilateral trading system.
Information and communication activities regarding international economic integration continue to be a focus of the Steering Committee for International Economic Integration (SEC) Office, implemented through various forms, from conferences, seminars, training courses, and thematic discussions to building integration databases and in-depth communication programs, contributing to raising awareness and supporting localities, associations, and businesses in the integration process. Notably, in 2025, the SEC Office successfully organized a series of seminars on international economic integration and the implementation of FTAs, broadcast on Vietnamese television, creating a significant ripple effect.
At the meeting, delegates discussed and contributed ideas to the 2026 work plan of the Office of the Steering Committee for International Economic Integration. Accordingly, in 2026, the Office will focus on restructuring and improving the functions and tasks of its departments; enhancing the quality of strategic advisory work; strengthening the inter-sectoral coordination role in implementing resolutions and action programs on international economic integration; promoting negotiations and effective implementation of FTAs; preparing well for Vietnam's chairmanship of the CPTPP in 2026 and Vietnam's third trade policy review at the WTO; and simultaneously promoting information dissemination and support for businesses and localities to effectively utilize integration commitments.
Enhancing the role of inter-sectoral coordination in international economic integration.
In his concluding remarks at the conference, Deputy Minister Nguyen Sinh Nhat Tan emphasized that in the coming period, the demands placed on international economic integration will become increasingly high, not only limited to market opening but also strongly focused on enhancing the adaptability, resilience, and competitiveness of the economy. In this context, the Office of the Steering Committee for International Economic Integration needs to continue to play its role as the coordinating and assisting agency of the Inter-Ministerial Steering Committee and the Government Negotiation Team; organize the negotiation sessions and major tasks in 2026 effectively; improve the quality of strategic advice; proactively research, forecast, and promptly propose solutions to address new challenges in international economic integration.
The Deputy Minister requested the Office to further strengthen inter-sectoral and inter-local coordination; closely follow the resolutions and action programs of the Party, the National Assembly, and the Government; and at the same time focus on supporting businesses and localities to effectively utilize FTAs, participate more deeply in regional and global supply chains, thereby contributing to improving the effectiveness of international economic integration and making a practical contribution to the goal of double-digit economic growth in the coming period.
Source: https://moit.gov.vn/tin-tuc/van-phong-ban-chi-dao-lien-nganh-hoi-nhap-quoc-te-ve-kinh-te-tong-ket-cong-tac-nam-2025-va-trien-khai-nhiem-vu-nam-2026.html
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