The Prime Minister has asked the Interdisciplinary Steering Committee for international integration in politics, security, defence, economics, socio-culture, science-technology and education-training to improve the quality of its consultancy on policymaking so as to make international integration an effective means of promoting sustainable development and safeguarding national sovereignty and security.

Vietnnam has defined staying proactive and positive in international integration a key strategic direction to the success of national construction and defence.

The PM asked for harmonious operations of coordination mechanism between ministries, sectors, supportive bodies of the National Steering Committee and agencies in charge of pushing international integration in localities.

Ministries, Ministerial-level agencies and agencies directly under the Government were required to intensify and uphold the role of multilateral diplomatic work by actively engaging in the building of multilateral cooperation mechanisms in line with the country’s interests.

Sustainable development initiatives and responses to global challenges were encouraged to be set up and introduced in important forums to further increase Vietnam’s global position.

Localities, enterprises and business associations will work to expand economic ties with foreign partners while enhancing communications on opportunities and challenges that Vietnamese businesses will face during the integration process, especially in the context of the upcoming ASEAN Community formation and the implementation of Vietnam’s new economic and trade commitments.

The PM assigned the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) to work with relevant ministries and sectors to build the country’s multilateral diplomatic orientations by 2030.

MoFA was also requested to urge Ministries, sectors and localities to implement bilateral diplomatic initiatives in accordance with their functions and tasks, including assuming international responsibility, hosting key multilateral events, building post-2015 ASEAN visions, improving the efficiency of links within Mekong Sub-region, realising international commitments, taking advantage of free trade agreements signed with partners and promoting the completion of negotiations on other FTAs.

The Ministry will also work to call on foreign partners to recognise Vietnam’s market economy before December 31, 2018.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Industry and Trade will team up with relevant ministries and sectors to accelerate the conclusion of negotiations on free trade agreements such as the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) agreement, the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and FTAs with the EU and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA) while actively implementing newly-signed FTAs Vietnam inked with the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) and the Republic of Korea.

The Ministry of Planning and Investment (MoPI) along with other ministries and sectors will concentrate on researching sea-based economic development strategies, the electronic network economy, connecting production value chains and proposing promotion measures.

MoPI will also be responsible for enhancing legal frameworks and standards related to government public procurement, public-private cooperation and tender in line with international commitments.

Provincial and municipal People’s Committees are requested to build and implement local international integration action plans focusing on improving competitiveness, investment and the business climate; promoting administrative reform; and fostering local-level links with foreign partners.

In order to support enterprises in boosting international integration, authorities of Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and other related localities will actively prepare for international events in Vietnam, including activities for the APEC Year in 2017.

The Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry will actively raise enterprise awareness of the country’s new economic and trade commitments and urge businesses to get involved in implementing international integration activities.

VNA