In a call for enhanced international cooperation, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng has urged the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) to bolster their support for Vietnam’s trade, investment, and long-term economic aspirations. During his meetings in Switzerland, Thắng emphasized the importance of a rules-based global trading system and Vietnam’s dedication to it.
Thắng pressed the WTO to expedite reforms, particularly stressing the need to restore its dispute settlement mechanism. He also advocated for the organization to broaden its scope to include critical emerging areas such as digital trade, artificial intelligence, climate change, and supply chain resilience. These sectors, he argued, are vital for the sustainable growth and integration of economies like Vietnam’s into the global market.
Highlighting Vietnam’s ambition to achieve high-income status by 2045, Thắng called on the WEF to strengthen its collaboration with the country. He suggested this could be achieved through promoting investment, fostering innovation, encouraging public-private partnerships, and supporting the development of international financial centers. These efforts are seen as pivotal to driving Vietnam’s economic growth and development in the coming decades.
Both the WTO and the WEF responded positively to Vietnam’s proactive stance on economic reforms. Officials from these organizations expressed their commitment to continued cooperation with Vietnam, particularly in areas of trade, investment, and capacity-building initiatives. Such partnerships are viewed as essential to enhancing Vietnam’s economic resilience and its integration into the global economy.