Vietnam is seeking enhanced support from the World Trade Organization (WTO) and the World Economic Forum (WEF) to bolster its trade, investment, and long-term economic growth. This appeal was made by Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng during his recent meetings in Switzerland, where he emphasized the nation’s dedication to a rules-based global trading system.
Thắng urged the WTO to expedite its reform processes, particularly focusing on reviving the organization’s dispute settlement mechanism. Furthermore, he suggested that the WTO broaden its scope to address modern challenges, including digital trade, artificial intelligence, climate change, and the resilience of supply chains.
In alignment with Vietnam’s ambition to become a high-income economy by 2045, Thắng invited the WEF to engage more deeply with Vietnam. He proposed increased collaboration in areas such as promoting investment, fostering innovation, enhancing public-private partnerships, and developing international financial centers.
Officials from both the WTO and WEF responded positively, acknowledging Vietnam’s ongoing economic reforms. They expressed their commitment to maintaining cooperative efforts in trade, investment, and capacity-building initiatives, which are crucial to Vietnam’s economic objectives.