The role of the state in Vietnam's international economic integration

tourism, immigration... from which the US-style unified security communities and the Western European-style pluralistic security communities are gradually formed. This approach has viewed integration as a process of association and has provided specific content of association.

The third approach belongs to the neo-functionalists. This school believes that integration is both a process and an end product. To evaluate the integration process, neo-functionalists focus on analyzing the cooperation process in policy making [ 11, pp. 53-54].

In general, integration theories are often associated with the institutional school and tend to define integration as a process towards and the end product of political or economic unification between countries.

In Vietnam, the term integration (understood as international economic integration) has only been widely used since the 1990s when our country implemented a policy of multilateralization, diversification of foreign economic relations, proactively and actively integrating into the regional and world economy. However, there are currently different definitions of integration.

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The Vietnamese encyclopedia explains: “Integration - the linking of economies together... Different economies carry out integration through trade activities and cooperation in economic policies and measures [51, p. 384].

According to Nguyen Xuan Thang, "International economic integration is an economic association process with specific goals and orientations associated with the scope, level and specific conditions of each country" [112, p. 23].

The above definitions reflect the important content of international economic integration, which is the connection of economies with a goal , but they have not clearly stated what the goal and final product are.

Economic globalization is an objective trend determined by the high development of productive forces and the international division of labor. Economic integration reflects the adaptation of national economies to the trend of economic globalization. International economic integration is the process of linking the economy and market of each country with the regional and world economy through efforts to liberalize the economy of each country at the unilateral, bilateral and multilateral levels. International economic integration is carried out through

through the conscious activities of socio-economic entities and the people, first of all the state. The state proactively implements the economic liberalization policy.

Thus, the connotation of the concept of international economic integration includes the following main points:

International economic integration is the process of linking each country's economy and market with the regional and world economy.

Each country voluntarily participates in regional and global economic institutions/organizations, and fulfills commitments to the organizations it participates in.

Each country must carry out economic liberalization, trade, investment and finance liberalization at unilateral, bilateral and multilateral levels.

Therefore, international economic integration can be understood as the process in which countries link their economies with regional and world economies through efforts to implement economic liberalization and economic opening at unilateral, bilateral and multilateral levels and minimize differences to become an integral part of the global economic entity.

The nature of international economic integration includes the following main aspects:

.International economic integration is the process of connection and interdependence between national economies. Without economic connection and cooperation between countries, there can be no economic integration.

.International economic integration is the process of reducing and gradually eliminating trade and investment barriers between countries in the direction of liberalization. Minimizing differences to become an organic part of the global economy. Without the liberalization of trade, investment, finance, ..., in general, economic liberalization between countries, there can be no international economic integration.

International economic integration creates pressure for countries to innovate and improve economic institutions, especially adjusting the legal system and economic policies to conform to international standards and international practices. If these necessary adjustments are not made, it will be difficult for a country to integrate into the trend of international economic integration.

.International economic integration creates new factors and new conditions for the development of each country and the international community on the basis of optimal exploitation and distribution of resources on a global scale. For each country, economic integration creates

conditions for exploiting the country's potential and advantages, expanding the market, attracting capital, modern technology and advanced management knowledge for development.

.International economic integration, on the one hand, creates favorable conditions for businesses to freely conduct business and participate in the global value chain, on the other hand, creates pressure forcing businesses to constantly innovate to operate more effectively and improve competitiveness.

Economic globalization and international economic integration are a pair of closely related categories in the development process of the world economy. One cannot exist without the other. Without economic globalization, there would be no international integration as a common trend. Practice shows that a series of regional and international economic institutions were only formed in the early 1990s. On the contrary, without international economic integration, economic globalization would only be a general development trend, not implemented in reality. Economic globalization and international economic integration are two processes of the movement trend of the world economy today. However, economic globalization should not be identified with international economic integration. Globalization is a trend of global economic integration, when this trend is implemented in reality by economic entities (states, enterprises), it is international economic integration.

With the above understanding, the main content of international economic integration includes:

- Proactively sign and participate in international economic organizations and institutions, together with other members, build common rules of the game and implement regulations and commitments with those organizations and institutions.

- Carry out domestic adjustments to implement regulations and commitments on integration and ensure the achievement of integration goals. Those adjustments include: first, adjusting the legal system and policies in the direction of making each country's legal system and policies on trade, investment, production and business, taxes, trade dispute resolution, etc. increasingly complete and consistent with the regulations of organizations and institutions that the country participates in. Second, reforming the economy in a market-oriented manner to create the most basic conditions for international economic integration. Third, adjusting the economic structure, creating an economic structure that allows the best exploitation of the country's advantages, improving

competitiveness of the economy as well as of enterprises to achieve high efficiency in the integration process; training human resources to meet the requirements of international economic integration.

b) Form and level of international economic integration

International economic integration is the process in which countries strive to open up their economies and liberalize their economies at unilateral, bilateral and multilateral levels.

At the unilateral level, each country can proactively implement opening and liberalization measures in certain areas that they deem necessary for their own economic development, not due to regulations of international institutions and organizations.

At the bilateral level, the two countries negotiate to sign bilateral agreements based on the principles of a free trade area. Currently, the trend of signing free trade agreements, especially bilateral ones, is developing very strongly.

At the multilateral level , many countries together establish or participate in regional and global economic institutions and organizations [11, pp. 57-58]. Multilateral organizations, according to Ruggie (1992), have three characteristics: i/ indivisibility; ii/ generalization of principles of conduct; iii/ expansion of the principle of reciprocity [120, p. 40]. Regional economic organizations include member countries in a certain geographical area such as the European Union (EU), the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA), the Southeast Asian Free Trade Area (AFTA); Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum. Global economic institutions and organizations include members from many different regions of the world such as the World Trade Organization (WTO).

In recent years, a new form of economic integration called regional economic integration (transnational linkage) has emerged and developed, forming development triangles and quadrilaterals in which the participating members are territories of several neighboring countries.

The level of integration depends on the development and depth of binding relations between countries towards the goal of trade liberalization within the framework of regional and global institutions. International economic links and integration, according to economists, have the following forms :

- Preferential tariff area (PTA) is a preferential trade agreement, the participating members give each other limited favorable market access. The participating members implement tariff reductions and non-tariff measures to a certain extent to facilitate trade between them. The preferential tariff area is a manifestation of low-level integration, because the member countries, in addition to granting each other some tariff concessions, still maintain mutual restrictive measures; on the other hand, the members of the preferential tariff area do not coordinate their foreign trade policies.

Or partial free trade agreements , where participating members only reduce and eliminate tariffs and non-tariff measures in specific areas. For example, the US-Canada free trade agreement on automobiles in the 1970s.

- A free trade area (FTA) is a type of association in which participating members reduce and eliminate tariff barriers, quantitative restrictions and non-tariff measures in intra-bloc trade. However, members still maintain their own independent tariff systems with countries outside the bloc. For example, the North American Free Trade Area (NAFTA), the ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA).

- Customs union . Similar to the form of free trade area. Members participating in the customs union must eliminate tariffs, quantitative restrictions and non-tariff measures in intra-bloc trade, and must implement a common tariff policy towards countries outside the bloc. For example, the customs union between the European Economic Community, Finland, Austria, Sweden.

- The common market is a model of association like a customs union, but in which production factors are free to move between member countries of the bloc. Thus, in a common market, not only goods and services but also capital, techniques, technology, labor, etc. are free to move between member countries. For example, the current European common market has developed to a higher level.

- Monetary union is a form of association in which member countries coordinate and unify monetary policies and international monetary transactions.

The European Monetary Union is a common economic union, issuing a collective currency; at the same time, countries unify their exchange rate policies, maintain the exchange rate regime within certain limits, and take intervention measures in certain cases to stabilize monetary relations within the union. The European Monetary Union is a typical example of this type of union.

- Economic union is a model of integration at a higher level, it is based on a common market plus economic policy coordination among members. For example, the European Union (EU).

- Comprehensive union is the high stage of integration. The members of the union are unified in politics, economic fields (including financial, monetary, tax) and social policies. Therefore, at this stage, national power in the above fields is transferred to a community structure. In essence, this is the construction of a type of federal state [11, pp. 58-60].

Each form and level of integration requires certain conditions that participating members must meet. The following form not only includes the content of the previous model but also has new content and new conditions. Currently, the most popular level of integration is still free trade zones.

Thus, international economic integration is both a process and a state. When emphasizing the process, international economic integration includes stages or steps. When emphasizing the state, they are considered as types of integration. Each state reflects the level of economic integration and each step towards comprehensive economic integration.

1.1.1.2 International economic integration is an inevitable trend, new characteristics and manifestations of international economic integration

a) International economic integration is an inevitable trend.

Is economic globalization an objective necessity? There are conflicting views on this issue. One view is that globalization is a US policy to expand US dominance, and that the essence of globalization is Americanization. Another view is that economic globalization and economic integration are inevitable trends. Vietnamese researchers, following this view, all acknowledge the inevitability of economic globalization and economic integration, but their explanations are somewhat different. Economic globalization and economic integration

International economic integration is an inevitable trend determined by the high development of productive forces and the strong progress of science and technology.

The first industrial revolution, with its basic content of transforming manual labor into mechanized labor, led to the formation of large-scale industry, promoted the international division of labor, and formed a world market. Regarding this issue, C. Marx and F. Engels wrote, "Large-scale industry has created a world market" [64, p.77]. "By squeezing the world market, the bourgeoisie has made production and consumption of all countries world-class...Instead of the previous isolation of localities and nations that were still self-sufficient, we see the development of universal relationships and universal dependence between nations" [64, p.80].

The mechanization of production greatly increased labor productivity, creating a series of products at cheaper prices. And as C. Marx said, "the cheap price of the products of that class is the heavy artillery that pierces all the Great Wall and forces the most stubbornly xenophobic barbarians to surrender" [64, p. 81]. At the same time, the invention of the steam engine led to the birth of trains and ships, making the trade of goods faster, more numerous, and cheaper. The invention of electricity, telephones, cars, airplanes, etc. in the second half of the 19th century strongly promoted international production and trade. Thus, in the 19th century, economic internationalization was promoted by the decrease in transportation costs due to the birth of steam engines and railways.

After World War II, the modern scientific and technological revolution made the productive forces develop beyond national borders, the international division of labor and production specialization took place more and more deeply on a global scale, thus making the economies of countries interdependent, forming the world economy as a system. The development of each country in the interdependent relationship both cooperates and competes with each other for development.

Among new technologies, information technology plays a leading role. The current information revolution has increasingly impacted the globalization process since the last decades of the 20th century. The interaction between the information revolution and globalization is a distinctive feature between current globalization and the past.

Today with the previous globalization waves. Thanks to global information networks (internet), regional networks, local networks, national markets are integrated with each other. Invisible markets (online transactions) can be formed at any time around the world, helping economic entities to grasp the necessary information instantly from any distance and make timely decisions. Modern information and telecommunications systems greatly facilitate the organization of international investment, production cooperation, trade, etc. Modern information technology is an indispensable transmission part in production and business activities anywhere. This can be seen through the circulation of global financial and trade flows on high-speed information superhighways with multimedia communication technology. Currently, within a day and night, a huge amount of money of about 2,000 billion USD runs around the world on electronic financial networks.

According to Thomas L. Friedman, globalization in the second half of the 20th century was driven by the decline in communication costs due to the development of the telegraph, PC telephone, satellite, fiber optic cable and the first version of the World Wide Web (WWW). This period witnessed the birth and maturity of the global economy [83, pp. 25-26].

Thus, the high development of productive forces and the rapid progress of science and technology, especially information technology, have created interdependence between national economies, creating global linkages and forming a global economy. International economic integration is an inevitable trend due to economic globalization and the new scientific and technological revolution. Economic globalization and international economic integration are inevitable trends. However, all processes in society and history are created by humans, and their implementation must be through human activities. Therefore, the progress of globalization and economic integration is also promoted by global and regional economic institutions, by economic liberalization policies of national governments.

First, the open-door policy, liberalization of international trade and investment of national governments.

The progress of international economic integration depends largely on the liberalization policies of countries. We have witnessed the regression of