The country must actively join theinternational community in shaping the common playing rules for the bestinterests of the nation in both the short- and long-term, he told thefirst meeting of the National Steering Committee for InternationalIntegration in Hanoi on March 3.
He also offeredguidance on the correct approaches to achieving global integration inpolitics, diplomacy, national defence and security in order to raisemutual understanding between Vietnam and partner countries and foster anenvironment of peace, stability and development.
The PM requested the acceleration of negotiations on free trade agreements (FTAs) and the utilisation of existing FTAs.
Apart from becoming globally assimilated in terms of culture, science,technology, and education-training, the country is to strengthen thenational sense of unity, rally resources for socio-economic development,and protect and assist Vietnamese citizens abroad.
Turning to multilateral diplomacy, the government leader instructedproactive participation in international treaties, multilateral forums,particularly the ASEAN and the United Nations.
In2014, Vietnam achieved well-rounded successes in external relations inthe key pillars of politics-security-defence,economics-science-education, and socio-culture.
Politically, it made substantial contributions to international forums,responsibly joined activities within the framework of the World TradeOrganisation and multilateral economic cooperation forums, and activelyparticipated in the formation of the up and coming ASEAN EconomicCommunity.
A highlight of the year was theaccelerated negotiations on several FTAs. Vietnam and its partnerssigned joint statements on the completion and towards the completion oftalks on FTAs between Vietnam and the Customs Union of Russia, Belarusand Kazakhstan, the Europe Union, and the Republic of Korea. Theremaining agreements, namely the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), theRegional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) and the agreementbetween Vietnam and the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), areprogressing positively.
Focusing on multilateraldiplomacy through 2020, the Foreign Ministry proposed hostinglarge-scale multilateral events, strengthening the ASEAN Community andits central role in the emerging regional architecture, among others.
Participants suggested working energetically on bothbilateral and multilateral diplomacy and intensifying coordination amongministries, agencies and localities in the process of internationalintegration.
Concluding the event, the PM asked theGovernment Office to make a report specifying the tasks of eachministry and agency and the Foreign Ministry to devise a draft directiveof the PM on international integration in line with a relevantresolution set by the Politburo.-VNA