Strengthening Cultural Exchange, Education and Other Activities

The initiative is to propose and actively prepare for the issuance of a Declaration on ASEM economic cooperation in the new period, bringing ASEM cooperation, especially ASEM economic cooperation, including economic cooperation, into more substance and effectiveness, fully reflecting the interests and benefits of all members.

In a number of other areas, such as cooperation in culture, education, health, environment, management, science and technology, technology transfer, etc., Vietnam's practical participation in these rich and practical activities of ASEM has contributed to creating a bridge to increase mutual understanding between the people of the two continents.

As one of the founding members of ASEM, Vietnam has made many positive contributions to ASEM, especially in successfully organizing the ASEM 5 Summit on October 8 and 9, 2004 in Hanoi with the theme "Towards a more vibrant and substantive Asia-Europe partnership" and for the first time, all 25 EU member states, all 10 ASEAN countries, 3 Northeast Asian countries and the EC President attended the Conference. ASEM 5 was a historic Summit marking the expansion of the ASEM cooperation forum.

On the sidelines of the ASEM 5 Conference, many diverse activities took place such as: The 3rd Asia-Europe Parliamentary Partnership Conference; The 3rd Asia-Europe Youth Forum; The Asia-Europe People's Forum; The Asia-Europe Business Forum. Workshop on achievements and prospects of Asia-Europe cooperation... In addition, Vietnam also organized many cultural and exchange activities between ASEM countries such as: Asia-Europe Youth Photography Forum; Asia-Europe photo exhibition; ASEM Film Week; Many information, propaganda and publication activities about ASEM and the ASEM 5 Summit.

The successful organization of the 5th ASEM Summit in Hanoi is a major event of great political significance in the partnership and development between the two continents of Asia and Europe and is also one of the most important foreign affairs events in 2004 for Vietnam.

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Participate in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum

November 1989, Japan Foreign Ministers' Conference,

Malaysia, South Korea, Thailand, the Philippines, Singapore, Brunei, Indonesia, New Zealand, Canada and the United States met in Canberra (Australia) and decided to establish APEC with the aim of coordinating the activities of governments to promote economic development in the Asia-Pacific region. In November 1991, APEC admitted China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan; in November 1993, APEC admitted Mexico and Papua New Guinea.

On June 15, 1995, Vietnam officially submitted an application to join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (APEC). Our country has actively fulfilled its membership obligations, including the timely development and publication of the National Action Plan (IAP), Collective Action Plan (CAP), and especially participation in the ECOTECH Economic and Technical Cooperation programs. APEC considers ECOTECH an important content to support the development of its members and promote the liberalization of regional trade and investment. Through the ECOTECH program, Vietnam can take advantage of information sources, learn advanced management experiences, capital sources and scientific and technological advances to develop domestic production. On April 25, 1997, Vietnam applied to participate as a guest in the Working Group on Trade Promotion; Working Group on Industrial Science and Technology; and APEC Agricultural Technical Cooperation Experts Group. These are groups that Vietnam has the ability to contribute to and can bring specific benefits to Vietnam.

On November 14, 1998, Vietnam was admitted as an official member of APEC together with Russia and Peru. Vietnam became an official member of APEC in the context of a developing economy in the transition period. Vietnam has actively participated and made many practical contributions to APEC's activities. After joining APEC, Vietnam's commitments and implementation of IAP (National Action Program) were considered serious among the newly joined members - having expanded its commitments in November.

A total of 15 areas of cooperation. Vietnam has also proposed many of its initiatives at various APEC Conferences and Forums, contributing to common cooperation activities.

Joining APEC has had both favorable and unfavorable impacts on Vietnam.

Advantages : Strengthening Vietnam's political position in the international arena; grasping information, fully updating the world's development trends to contribute to orienting and adjusting domestic policies; taking advantage of economic and technical cooperation programs; improving management and business capacity, expanding trade and investment relations to penetrate the market; exchanging experiences, creating more motivation to promote development.

Regarding difficulties : Vietnam's ability to cooperate internationally in general is still limited; Vietnam's legal system still has many shortcomings; lack of specialized and experienced staff ...

Currently, “APEC has a population of about 2.5 billion; GDP of 19,000 billion USD per year and accounts for about 47% of global trade” [2, p.111]. Of the 14 largest economies in the world with GDP greater than 500 billion USD, 7 are members of APEC, including the 2 largest economies in the world, the United States and Japan. As a member with a low-level of economic development in APEC, Vietnam has many opportunities to cooperate with developed economies to promote the process of international economic integration, actively participating in solving urgent issues of the region and the world. APEC brings together most of Vietnam's major trading partners.

Becoming an official member of APEC, with a developing economy, Vietnam has actively participated in APEC's economic, trade, investment cooperation programs and liberalization process. Vietnam has many major partners in APEC such as ASEAN countries, Japan, China, Korea, the United States, the Russian Federation ... "The APEC market has great potential for Vietnam,

accounting for about 80% of trade turnover, 75% of foreign investment capital and over 50% of official development assistance (ODA)" [2, p113]. As a new member country of APEC, Vietnam has also been active and proactive in putting forward many proposals and initiatives. At the APEC Foreign and Economic Ministers' Meeting held in Los Cabos (Mexico) in October 2002, Vietnam proposed to host the APEC Senior Meeting in 2006 and was supported by all members. At the 11th APEC Meeting held in Bangkok, Vietnam proposed two initiatives with the themes "Strengthening intra-bloc cooperation" and "Fund to support micro-enterprises" which were highly appreciated by the Meeting. Vietnam has actively participated in a number of Collective Action Plans (CAPS) in two main areas of cooperation: Standards and Cooperation (SCSC) and Customs Procedures (SCCCP). give priority to the Economic and Industrial Cooperation Program (ECOTECH).

At the 12th ASEM Summit in Chile, Vietnam participated in the Conference with confidence, positivity, proactive international integration and promoted the results we have achieved in other international forums such as ASEM and ASEAN to enhance Vietnam's position in the world. The Vietnamese delegation actively participated in discussions and spoke at all sessions, contributing practical ideas on enhancing economic, trade and investment cooperation, anti-terrorism, security and APEC reform. Many of Vietnam's opinions and viewpoints were shared and welcomed by other countries. Vietnam emphasized its determination to join the WTO, asked members to support the early conclusion of bilateral negotiations with Vietnam and put forward the content in the Ministerial Conference Statement.

In 2006, Vietnam hosted the APEC Summit. It can be said that this was a great effort of Vietnam because we had made very careful preparations to welcome the Leaders of 25 APEC member economies, including world powers such as Russia, the US, China, and Japan. The theme of APEC Vietnam 2006 is "Towards a dynamic community for sustainable development and prosperity". To concretize this theme, Vietnam

Nam proposed 4 sub-topics:

- Enhance trade and investment through implementation of the Busan Roadmap and promotion of the Doha Round

- Strengthen economic and technical cooperation to narrow the gap and develop sustainably.

- Promote a safe and favorable business environment.

- Promote cohesion in the APEC community.

We have organized many events during APEC Vietnam 2006, including major events including: The first APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM I) and related meetings; The fourth APEC Regional Trade Security Conference (STAR IV); APEC Ministerial Meeting on Avian Influenza; The second APEC Senior Officials Meeting (SOM II)... The APEC High-Level Week was held in Hanoi with the highlight being the Informal APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting (from November 18-19, 2006) along with the APEC Senior Officials' Meeting - Summary Session (CSOM), the APEC Foreign and Trade Ministers' Meeting, the High-Level Meeting of Presidents/CEOs of more than 500 leading companies in the APEC region... In addition, there were conferences and seminars of more than 50 APEC committees, sub-committees, working groups, the APEC 2006 exhibition and fair...

Vietnam's hosting of APEC 2006 has great significance. Assessing this event, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Khoan - Chairman of the National Committee for APEC 2006 said: "APEC 2006 is the largest international event ever held in Vietnam, with the focus being the APEC high-level week taking place from November 12 to 19, 2006 in Hanoi. This is an honor, a source of pride and Vietnam's greatest contribution to the development process of APEC; vividly demonstrating Vietnam's increasingly high international image and position in the region and the world. There are three great hopes; First , Vietnam contributes to the development of the APEC process, making APEC more substantial and effective. Second , through APEC, we create

further improve the image of Vietnam as a dynamic, hospitable country with a unique cultural identity. Third , through APEC to promote Vietnam's relations with member economies because these economies account for a very large proportion of the world economy. Vietnamese enterprises have the opportunity to contact and establish business relationships with the world's leading partners."

Joining the World Trade Organization (WTO)

The process of joining the WTO is a long one. Since 1994, after Vietnam was recognized as an observer of GATT, Vietnam has actively conducted negotiations to join the WTO. In December 1994, Vietnam submitted an application to join the WTO.

For Vietnam, joining the WTO brings us both advantages and opportunities as well as difficulties and challenges.

Joining the WTO will promote economic and social innovation and institutional reform, first of all promoting the improvement of our country's legal and policy system, creating a stable, transparent and favorable business environment for production and business activities.

To join the WTO effectively and bring benefits to domestic enterprises, it is necessary to carefully study the requirements, constraints, as well as the principles of the rules of the game. We need to adjust and perfect our economic mechanisms and policies to comply with the requirements of the WTO. At the same time, Vietnamese enterprises must also change their working methods, improve techniques, increase productivity, and reduce costs to be able to welcome competition from foreign enterprises when joining the WTO.

Becoming a member of the WTO, Vietnam has the conditions to attract foreign investment capital (ODA, FDI and other forms of indirect investment) through expanding the scope of member countries investing in Vietnam.

However, by joining the WTO, Vietnam must commit to fulfilling its obligations.

In the fields of commercialization, trade in services, investment, etc., economic reform must be carried out, preferential treatment for state-owned enterprises must be abolished, and a transparent and fair business environment must be created. Vietnam must open its market, goods and services to WTO member countries, and must build a policy system in accordance with the WTO.

The WTO accession negotiations were conducted through two channels: multilateral negotiations on Vietnam's trade regime; and bilateral negotiations on opening markets for goods and services.

On the multilateral level, Vietnam has gone through 14 formal multilateral negotiation sessions and 1 informal multilateral negotiation session with the Working Party on Vietnam's accession to the WTO. Vietnam has answered over 3,000 questions and comments from member countries on the legal system, trade policy, tax and non-tariff policies, foreign investment policy, industry, agriculture, intellectual property and domestic economic reform in general.

Many commitments and action programs of Vietnam have been made to concretize the requirements of the WTO. Especially in the field of reforming the legal system in accordance with the regulations of the WTO. Vietnam has reviewed and passed many important laws, including the amended Commercial Law, the General Investment Law, the General Enterprise Law, and the Intellectual Property Law.

Vietnam's negotiation efforts have been recognized and supported by member countries. After many rounds of bilateral and multilateral negotiations, on January 11, 2007, we officially became the 150th member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) - a global economic institution.

Joining the WTO is just a means to promote the implementation of the nation's goals of development, industrialization, modernization, and escape from poverty and backwardness. Joining the WTO is a commitment to participate in the world market economy regulated by clear rules of the game, strict norms and standards, and

Accessing the open markets of 150 countries, Vietnam has both rights and responsibilities, difficulties but that brings us great opportunities and challenges. To participate in this playground, Vietnam must commit to accepting multilateral principles, at the same time reducing its protection level by committing to a roadmap to eliminate non-tariff barriers, especially quantitative restrictions such as import bans, import quotas or arbitrary import restriction licensing. On the other hand, Vietnam must open its doors to foreign investors to participate in business in many service sectors with more flexible conditions.

Along with joining the WTO, to date, we have established economic and trade relations with over 170 countries and economies, and signed nearly 60 bilateral economic and trade agreements, including all developed countries and economies and large markets. We are increasingly active and effective, enhancing the country's position in international cooperation institutions.

2.2.3. Strengthen cultural exchanges, education and other activities

Vietnam’s international relations are currently expanding and diversifying. We have developed relations with many countries on all continents, many regional and international organizations and world economic and political centers in many fields. In addition to fields such as politics and economics, Vietnam also has relations with countries in science and technology, health, education, culture, society and development in many different forms and levels.

In the exchange and integration of education and training, it can be said that Vietnam compared to other countries in the ASEAN region has shown a "difference in content, methods and quality of schools, especially universities" [44, p.351]. Teaching and learning in Vietnam is still heavily traditional, "teacher reads, student writes", passive, and impractical.

In recent years, with the trend of integration in the world, the exchange in the field of education has been increasingly promoted. Many students, students, and trainees

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