WT/MIN(17)/ST/31  
 
13 December 2017  
(17-6916) Page: 1/2 
Ministerial Conference  
Eleventh Session  
Buenos Aires, 10 -13 December 2017  Original: English  
 
STATEMENT BY H.E. MR  TRAN QUOC KHANH  
VICE MINISTER  
VIET NAM 
First of all, I would like to thank for the excellent efforts exerted by the Government of Argentina 
in hosting this 11th WTO Ministerial Conference in the beautiful city of Buenos Aires. I also thank 
for the warm hospitality of the people of Argentina extended to me and the Vietnamese delegation 
as well.  
Since the 10th WTO Ministerial Conference in Nairobi in 2015, the worl d has witnessed many 
significant changes. The negotiation and signing of the free trade agreements and regional trade 
agreements have been accelerated. The populism and trade protectionism particularly have come 
back and remain ever strong, posing implicit  risks to the multilateral trading system and the 
international trade.    
Meanwhile, despite tireless efforts of Members and the WTO Director -General himself, what we 
have achieved during the course of negotiation of the DDA issues remains limited. The out comes 
even agreed by Ministers in Bali and Nairobi have not been effectively realized. This is a fact that 
triggers a question "what is impeding us in seeking and implementing a balanced deal that can 
work for all the WTO Members? " 
For the last decades, wh at the WTO has done to the international trade has been undeniable. 
However, given what has been happening, we should admit in a candid manner that the 
multilateral trading system has a number of shortcomings which makes it difficult to adapt to the 
change s of the era we are living. Therefore, it is essential for the WTO Members to define causes 
and propose workable solutions to help the WTO further improve its efficiency so that the 
organization is not only an efficient negotiation forum but a credible wat chdog in maintaining and 
ensuring the global fair trade.  
In this regard, we are of the view that the WTO Members should exert all -out efforts in 
Buenos  Aires to show the necessary flexibilities to reach a positive outcome, setting a good basis 
to solve th e outstanding issues in the coming time. Without the efforts of all the Members , the 
MC11 may founder, not only sending a negative signal not only to the multilateral trading system 
but affecting the faint recovery of the world economy.  
Viet Nam affirms i ts solid and consistent commitments to the multilateral trading system and the 
WTO as well. We are willing to work and stand shoulder by shoulder with other WTO Members to 
solve the outstanding issues in our capacity. In the APEC Lead ers’ Week held in Da N ang, 
Viet Nam last month, we were proud to make contribution to the delivery of the APEC Leaders’ 
Statement that affirms the APEC Leaders’ commitment to work together to improve the functioning 
of the WTO including  its negotiating, monitoring, and dispute settlement functions, to adequately 
address challenges facing the system, bringing benefits to all of our people and businesses.  
In addition to strengthening the WTO’s functioning towards a solid organization, we bel ieve that 
the expansion of WTO M embershi p is very meaningful for the multilateral trading system, 
especially at this moment. Having said that, Viet Nam would like to support Belarus to conclude its 
negotiation for the WTO Accession at the soonest and to be recognized as the market economy 
withou t a transitional period.     WT/MIN(17)/ST/31  
 
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  Lastly, we do hope that this Ministerial Conference will achieve important outcomes, creating a 
basis to further accelerate the WTO’s negotiations and implement its commitments and 
regulations, bringing about great and practica l benefits for the development of all Members.  
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