Vietnam strengthens international integration in 2017
(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam’s external relations activities in 2017 were successful, said Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh at an online conference between the government and localities on Friday.
Minh praised Vietnam’s successful hosting of APEC Year 2017 and the 121 agreements worth more than 20 billion USD which were signed at the event. Mr. Minh said: "In 2017, localities have strengthened international cooperation with localities and enterprises of other countries through visiting exchanges. They signed 210 international agreements which include 103 agreements with local administrations and 107 agreements with foreign enterprises.”
Next year Vietnam will finalize its commitments to a number of international economic agreements at various levels. Vietnam will reduce 669 tariff lines to zero percent as of January 1st under the ASEAN Goods Agreement, fulfill its commitments to WTO, and reduce taxes under FTAs between ASEAN and China, South Korea, Australia, and Japan. Minh said these agreements will affect the competitiveness of enterprises asking them to create appropriate investment policies.