(VNA): The 11^th session of multilateral talks on Vietnam's joining the World Trade Organisation, scheduled for September 15, is very important and decisive for Vietnam.

Deputy Trade Minister Luong Van Tu, General Secretary of the National Committee for International Economic Co-operation, Head of the Vietnamese Government delegation to the talks, said so at the opening session of a seminar on the challenges Vietnam is facing in its regional integration strategy in Hanoi on August 22-23.

Through its ten multilateral talk sessions and by concluding bilateral talks with 20 partners, Vietnam is entering the final stage of the process for joining the WTO. Deputy Minister Tu stressed that, the early conclusion of talks with the EU, a major trading partner with 25 member countries, has had a positive impact on Vietnam's negotiations process. Vietnam with not face any major obstacles in its talks with the remaining partners, Deputy Minister Tu said, adding that the talks with the US and Australia are going smoothly.

Its momentum in the negotiation process for WTO accession is creating momentum for Vietnam in other areas of international economic and commercial co-operation, especially co-operation in the ASEAN free trade area. According to experts from the National Committee for International Economic Co-operation, joining the WTO will give Vietnam an equal position in negotiating with other nations on trade liberalisation in each region - a strongly developing trend in the world now. 

Pham Chi Lan, a veteran expert from the Government's Advisory Board, said  it is necessary to change the public's conception about the requirements of international integration, especially among the public offices and employees.

She added that business circles have been relatively aware of the benefits as well as the challenges Vietnam may face when entering the WTO, while public employees and most other people think international integration is only a matter of the Government.

Meanwhile, Dr. Le Quang Lan from the Multilateral Policy Department, under the Ministry of Trade stressed the need to improve the capacity in negotiating and assessing the multifaceted impacts of integration - a big problem for Vietnam.

Furthermore, he said that as part of preparations to becomes a WTO member, Vietnam should fully apply the WTO rules in its trade regulations.

While affirming his support for Vietnam's bid to join the WTO, Eric Berti, Charge d'affaires of the French Embassy in Vietnam, said that during the process of international integration, Vietnam should pay attention to the social impact and anticipate possible risks to its financial system.