VietNamNet Bridge – Vietnam still cannot take full advantage of WTO (World Trade Organisation) membership opportunities, stated Ngo Quang Xuan, now Deputy Chair of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee and former Deputy Head of the Government’s Negotiation Delegation to WTO, at an interview held exactly three years after Vietnam officially joined on January 11, 2007.

Ngo Quang Xuan, Deputy Chair of the National Assembly’s Foreign Affairs Committee

Nguoi Lao Dong: As a negotiator for Vietnam’s admission to WTO, how would you characterize the impact of WTO membership on Vietnam over the last three years?

Ngo Quang Xuan: Vietnam has grown up considerably because it has to improve in order to adapt to the world’s playing field. We have obtained certain achievements in expanding our export markets and attracting foreign investment. Vietnam has stepped up into a higher position in the eyes of foreign partners. However, we have missed a lot of opportunities and coped with many risks since we entered the WTO.

NLD: Do you think that we have successfully taken advantage of WTO membership?

Xuan: I think that we still do take full advantage because we do are not prepared enough. Vietnam’s export markets have expanded, but we still do not have key products. We are still mainly exporting raw materials and outsourced products.

The National Assembly discussed the Economic Arbitrator Law and found that we seriously lack staff in this field. Honestly speaking, if an international dispute occurs, involved parties do not have the confidence to hire Vietnamese arbitrators. Experts have pointed out that Vietnam is still bad at forecasting, therefore, Vietnam focuses on tackling problems rather than taking initiative in fulfilling strategies. The Government has realized the problem and has solutions for the upcoming development stage.

NLD: Do you think that the macroeconomic uncertainties in late 2008 and early 2009 were negative effects of WTO membership, (i.e the deep integration of Vietnam into the world’s economy)?

Xuan: Not totally because of WTO. In fact, we have not yet fully and deeply integrated into the world, and because of this, we were not in the “centre of the storm.”

However, the global economic crisis showed weak points in Vietnam’s economy in that it relies heavily on exports and direct foreign investment. Vietnam’s exports have shrunk because of the dramatic decrease in the purchasing power of some economies

NLD: What should Vietnam do to take full advantages and reduce the negative impacts of the WTO membership? What are the problems of Vietnam at this moment?

Xuan: We have not joined negotiation groups that share common interests. For example, there are groups of developing countries, agriculture production countries and groups of newly-admitted countries

The more we integrate into the world, the higher risks we confront. Our technical barriers are not strong enough to support local production. Meanwhile, some of our policies are not clear, plus policy implementation is problematic, thus creating disadvantages. I think one of the priority issues is to prepare human resources for the post-crisis period.

VietNamNet/NLD

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