VN, Laos, Cambodia: More chances to benefit cooperation within WTO

The seminar attracted over 100 participants who are officials, scholars, businesses from Cambodia, Laos and Việt Nam as well as economists and experts from UNDP and the World Bank.

Addressing the opening ceremony, Deputy Foreign Minister Đào Việt Trung asserted that recent vigorous developments of the globalization and unexpected changes of the world economy have created many problems for countries, including three Indochinese ones, in making and realizing their policies on development and international integration. The diplomat stressed that, as close neighbors with long-standing friendship, special economic ties, similarities in development level, Cambodia, Laos and Việt Nam, who are also members of many organizations (ASEAN, ASEM, Development Triangle, East-West Corridor), are facing both same challenges and opportunities. Thus, the seminar will be a good chance for the three countries to share their experience of international integration as well as WTO accession and commitments implementation, so as to accelerate their effective involvement in the global multilateral trade system and consolidate their economic ties for common benefits.

According to Dr. Hans Zehetmair, Chairman of Hanns Seidel Foundation, admission to WTO brings about both opportunities and challenges. He also pledged to continue supporting Việt Nam through programs on competitive advantages.     

With three topics "Globalization and the World Economy: Current Trends and Impacts on Cambodia, Laos, and Việt Nam", "Experience on Negotiating for WTO Accession" and "Experience on WTO Commitments Implementation", the attendants thoroughly discussed major issues dealt with by three countries in the context of global economic changes and globalization.

As new WTO members, Cambodia and Việt Nam can share with Laos their experience on not only WTO commitment implementation but also negotiations for WTO admission, then drawing out lessons for trade negotiation, international and regional cooperation carried out by three countries, helping to promote growth and sustainable development in each respective countries and strengthen their solidarity and cooperation.

Successful lessons on industrialization of other countries and territories within the region, including the Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and China, were also taken into account.

By Hoàng Phương