. /.  WORLD TRADE  
ORGANIZATION  WT/MIN(05)/ST/162 
17 December 2005 
 (05-6157) 
MINISTERIAL CONFERENCE 
Sixth Session Hong Kong, 13 - 18 December 2005 Original:   English 
 
  
VIET NAM 
 
Statement by HE Mr Luong Van Tu
 
Vice Minister of Trade and Chief Negotiator  
 
(Speaking as an Observer) 
 
 
 On behalf of the delegation of the Socialis t Republic of Vietnam, let me express our deep 
appreciation to the organizers for the excellent and considerate preparation for the Sixth Session of the 
Ministerial Conference of the WTO.  I do think that the choice of Hong Kong – a champion in free trade – to be the venue for this Conference is a meaningful decision that will have a positive impact 
on the progress of the ongoing Doha negotiations in particular and of the multilateral trading system 
in general.  I would also like to take this opportuni ty to express my sincere thanks to the authority and 
the people of Hong Kong for their warmest hosp itality extended to the Vietnamese delegation. 
  Vietnam is a poor and low-income country (w ith per capita income of less than 500 USD per 
year) that is also in the process of transition.   However, our Government recognizes the potential 
developmental and economic benefits delivered by the multilateral trading system.  Hence, we have 
been committed to the accession pr ocess with a view to obtaining WTO membership as early as 
possible.  After more than 10 years of negotiations , Vietnam has by far achieved remarkable progress 
both in the bilateral a nd multilateral negotiations. 
  Within the multilateral framework, with th e kind support of the members of the Working 
Party and the WTO Secretariat, we have been able  to hold 11 formal and informal sessions of the 
Working Party on Vietnam's Accession.  Duri ng these sessions, Vietna m has committed to full 
implementation of key agreements of the WTO such as TRIPS, TRIMs, CVA, SPS, TBT and Import Licensing Procedures upon accession.  Other rules concerning preshipment inspection, anti-dumping, countervailing and safeguard measures will also be consistent with WTO rules and regulations upon 
accession.  In addition, we have also made far-reach ing commitments in such areas as trading rights, 
subsidies, and quantitative restrictions that are in line with WTO's standards required for newly-
acceded members.  Especially, Vietnam is committe d to remove export subsidies in agriculture upon 
WTO accession.  These commitments have enabled the Working Party's members to reach their 
discussion on the adoption of the final Draft Report on Vietnam's Accession to the WTO.  
 On the bilateral front, Vietnam has successfu lly concluded negotiations with 22 out of 
27 Members requesting for negotiations.  We have  also achieved good progress with the five 
remaining partners and negotiations ha ve proceeded to the final stage. 
  The Government and the National Assembly of  Vietnam fully recognize that establishment of 
a legal system that works for the administrative refo rm and economic transition and that is consistent 
with WTO's rules should always be a top priority on the agenda.  Bearing that in mind, in recent years 
and particularly in 2005, the National Assembly  has examined and adopted 29 important laws, 
including the amended Civil Code, the amende d Commercial Law, the Law on the Conclusion, WT/MIN(05)/ST/162 
Page 2  
 
 Accession and Implementation of International Tr eaties, the amended Customs Law, the amended 
Law on Import and Export Duties, the Law on I nvestment, the Law on Intellectual Property, the 
Enterprise Law, the Law on Procurement, the amended Law on Excise Tax, the amended Law on VAT, the amended Law on Claims and De nunciation and the Law on e-Transactions. 
 
 Hence, Vietnam will have in place a legal syst em compatible with WTO's rules prior to its 
accession.   Allow me to take this opportunity to express my sincere thanks to all the Members who have 
concluded their bilateral negotia tions with Vietnam for their goodwill, to the WTO Secretariat for 
their kind support.  My thanks also go to the WTO Members who have provided Vietnam with the 
invaluable technical assistance.  On this occasion, I would also like to urge the remaining partners to 
continue with their goodwill and show greater flexibility for Vietnam's accession by concluding 
negotiations with Vietnam as soon as possible.  In a ddition, I would like to draw your attention to 
Vietnam's low level of development and to the difficulties that Vietnam is undergoing during its 
economic transition.  Hence, you are kindly requ ested to refrain from making unreasonable requests 
that go beyond Vietnam's capacity and WTO's rules.  In fact, Vietnam's commitments by far have been equal to and in some areas, even better than  that of newly acceded WTO Members with the same 
level of development.   I would also ask the WTO to facilitate the ne gotiations of all other acceding countries whose 
accession will definitely contribute to a stronger WTO. 
  On this occasion, I would like to send my best  congratulations to the delegations of Saudi 
Arabia and Tonga for their recent membership in  the WTO family.  I strongly believe that the 
participation of these two Members will greatly enha nce the strengths of and belief in the multilateral 
trading system. 
  I would like to wish the Conference every success.  
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