WT/MIN(22)/ST/66  
12 June 2022 
(22-4503) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Twelfth Session  
Geneva, 12 -15 June 2022  Original: English  
 
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR NGUYEN  HONG DIEN  
MINISTER OF INDUSTRY AND TRADE  
VIET NAM 
After almost 5 years since the MC11, it is such a great opportunity for us to meet in -person to 
discuss the most pressing and emerging issues facing the WTO and the world at large. As such, this 
Conference is understandably regarded as a major event for the multilateral trading system as well 
as for our global economy.  
 
During the last years, the world has witnessed unprecedented changes due to the COVID -19 
pandemic as well as the external shocks and other complex developments on many fronts ranging 
from public healthcare, economics and politics. Thanks to our untiring efforts, we have been able to 
witness the recovery of economic, trade and investment activiti es. Nonetheless, uncertainties are 
still lying ahead with regard to the pandemic and other unknown risks. Therefore, the multilateral 
trading system with the WTO at its core needs to continue its efforts, solidarity and ambition to 
maintain the smooth and effective global supply chains as well as other development goals that the 
WTO has been pursuing.  
 
Throughout the past decades, it is impossible to deny the WTO as the heart of the multilateral trading 
system. Nevertheless, we are also aware of this Organi zation' s shortcomings, including internal ones 
identified during the MC11 yet hardly resolved until today. We should be aware as well that it is now 
time for the WTO to undertake fundamental reforms in order to maintain and strengthen its 3 core 
pillars, w hilst adapting promptly to the profound changes and new requirements of the era. Never 
have we observed the issues on healthcare, environment, food security and supply -chain disruption 
become more pressing and urgent than today.  
 
It is therefore imperativ e that WTO Members confront the root causes of these challenges and 
explore appropriate solutions so that the WTO can overcome them and continuously improve its 
operational efficiency. The WTO should not be limited itself to providing an effective negotiat ing 
platform, but also need to be a contributor to solving global crises, whilst maintaining and ensuring 
a level -playing field in the world trade.  
 
Under such context, we emphasise that during this Conference, WTO Members need to show the 
solidarity and f lexibility required to achieve positive negotiation outcomes, forming important basis 
to address key issues for future development. At MC12, all Members need to exert our best efforts 
towards a satisfactory outcome, sending a positive message and displayin g the critical role of the 
WTO in solving current and future issues.  
 
On our part, since joining the WTO, Viet Nam has been and will continue be wholeheartedly 
committed to the multilateral trading system. We are ready to cooperate with WTO Members in 
maintaining and strengthening the multilateral system with WTO at its core, in promoting and 
facilitating trade and investment, as well as in ensuring the vital supplies of goods and materials in 
the region and across the world. At the same time, Viet Nam is w illing to stand with other Members 
in ensuring sustainable development for the world economy, bringing inclusive benefits while striving 
to provide pragmatic support to the developing and least developed Members.  
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  We call on WTO Members to reach consensus, promoting and approving of key areas at this 
Conference, and collaborating closely to lay the groundwork for subsequent implementation plan. 
Like many other responsible Members, Viet Nam also supports efforts and initiatives on WTO reforms 
towards improving its operational effectiveness and strengthening the Organization' s stature.  
 
In the context of the emergence of many new bilateral and regional mechanisms, the WTO is still an 
effective multilateral cooperation  mechanism to maintain stability and equality in international 
relations, and is a premise for sustainable economic growth on a global scale. In order to achieve 
those targets in the coming time, WTO reforms also need to maintain a balance between rights a nd 
obligations, taking into accounts the levels of development and implementation capacity of its 
Members.  
 
Viet Nam is attaching great importance to key WTO negotiations such as fisheries and agricultural 
subsidies. At the same time, we desire that Member s can focus on topics of urgency and interest 
such as securing supply of food and essential goods for the people in a comprehensive and practical 
fashion. I do hope that WTO Members will soon be able to reach consensus on such issues.  
 
Last but not least, I wish this WTO Ministerial Conference to achieve the set objectives that serve as 
premise for negotiations to be further promoted and WTO rules and commitments to continue to be 
implemented, bringing substantial and practical benefits to the development p rocess of all Members.  
 
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