Foreign Minister spokesman Le Dung.

On November 22, Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung confirmed that Vietnam has still been trying its best in negotiations to join the World Trade Organisation as soon as possible.

At a press conference in Hanoi yesterday, Mr Dung was asked to clarify the meaning of a recent statement by Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan, that Vietnam will not set a time target for WTO accession.

While setting a deadline for WTO accession would show the political determination of the Vietnamese government in regional and international integration, Mr Dung said: “Vietnam’s negotiation process with other partners must reach suitable commitments to WTO regulations and Vietnam’s development level, and they must be commitments that are advantageous for all sides.”

He added that Vietnam realises the importance of legal reform to observe international commitments, especially commitments to and regulations in, the WTO.

From now the year’s end, the country will pass and issue about 20 new laws, including the Investment Law and Enterprise Law, to remove overlap and simplify investment and business formalities, creating a common equal and transparent market for investors and enterprises.

In addition, the state-owned economic sector is being streamlined and restructured, Dung stressed. At present there are around 4,000 state-owned enterprises compared to 12,000 in previous years. Nearly 1,000 have been restructured.

(Source: Tuoi Tre)