The year 2010 saw busy activities of the Party and State foreign affairs, which marked great success as Vietnam’s position and role was further raised in the international arena.   

 

State President Nguyen Minh Triet with outstanding individuals at the second emulation congress by the Women’s Union and the overview after three years of the implementation of the campaign “Studying and following President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example"

State President Nguyen Minh Triet’s outstanding activity was his attendance at the United Nations Summit to overview the implementation of millennium development goals (MDGs) and the meeting of the leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). As the face of the world and the region changed strongly and profoundly, increased links in the region received great support and attention from the international public. The State President and Vietnamese delegation made active contributions to the two Summits that were of leading importance to the world and the vast Asia Pacific region.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet’s presence at the Summits also aimed to increase political, trade and investment relations between Vietnam and partners. It was also an opportunity for Vietnam to inform partners of the national development, Party and State policies, and Vietnam’s efforts and successes in coping with financial and economic crisis, reinforcing the trust of economic partners and investors in Vietnam’s prospects for economic development. On the sidelines of the Summits, the State President found meetings an effective way to promote relations with partners.

During the time in New York where the UN Summit to overview ten years of the implementation of MDGs was held last September, State President Nguyen Minh Triet met with representatives from large enterprises in the United States and the State of Texas, and held dialogues with scholars and economic researchers of the US at the 2010 Global Investment Conference organized by the International Economic Alliance (IEA). Such enterprises as Lockheed Martin, Exxon Mobil, Boeing, Raytheon, Procter and Gamble, Chevron Westinghouse Electric, AES, Pratt and Whitney, and researchers at large US universities participated in the meetings and dialogues.

US enterprises recognized Vietnam’s great progress in improving its investment environment, administrative procedures, maintaining the stability of the macro economy, and efficiently dealing with the global financial and economic crisis. They also noted difficulties in investment in Vietnam, including infrastructure and high interest rates. Despite the obstacles, they acknowledged the greater potential in investment and business in Vietnam than other countries in the region.

Speaking during the meetings, State President Nguyen Minh Triet noted that during 25 years of the renewal process, the Vietnamese economy gained successively high growth of over 7%. Vietnam had been a member of the World Trade Organization for over three years, and it was now integrating into the world economy. It was assessed as a dynamic economy and many international investors paid attention to the Vietnamese market.

Particularly, over the past two years, US investors have increased their investment into Vietnam. Many large groups entered Vietnam and the US has become one of the leading investors in Vietnam.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet highlighted that Vietnam created a more and more favourable investment environment. Vietnam respected foreign investors and cared for their interests. Vietnamese leaders and authorities were willing to share and promptly deal with foreign investors’ difficulties. Foreign enterprises coming to Vietnam were considered not only investors but also friends of Vietnam.

During the 18th APEC meeting which was held in Yokohama City, Japan, State President Nguyen Minh Triet attended the CEO Summit last November. Under the theme “Asia-Pacific as the Driving Force for Global Growth: Seeking Prosperity after Crisis”, the Summit received great attention from the international public and enterprises. Thirteen high-ranking leaders who attended the APEC meeting were present at the Summit, together with representatives from 500 leading economic groups in the region.

State President Nguyen Minh Triet was one of the five APEC leaders invited to deliver a speech during the important Summit. As 2010 ASEAN Chairmanship, State President Nguyen Minh Triet highlighted ASEAN’s contributions to the Asia – Pacific region becoming one of the first regions to recover and gain high growth rates, becoming the driving force of the world despite the bad consequences of the global financial crisis. With vivid evidence, the State President showed ASEAN efforts in accelerating economic links and creating an unified common market, acting as an important catalyst for regional links. ASEAN has become a centre of the economic and trade relations among partners in the Asia – Pacific region.

Noting Vietnam’s high economic growth rate while being influenced by bad consequences of the global financial and economic downturn, State President Nguyen Minh Triet underlined that the achievements were bolstered by Vietnam’s efforts in international integration, including programs and organizations such as sub-Mekong region, ASEAN, ASEAN with partners, East Asia Summit, APEC, ASEM and WTO.

According to the State President, together with preparations for negotiations for a Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the European Union, Vietnam participated in the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) and would actively participate in the negotiations for the agreement.

The State President said he hoped in the next ten years, enterprises and economic groups in the region would cooperate with and support Vietnam in three developmental breakthroughs, including infrastructure, human resources and institution improvements. With its consistent policy in renewal, and comprehensive and profound international integration, Vietnam was committed to create every favourable condition for foreign enterprises and investors to successfully operate in Vietnam.

(CPV)