Foreign tourists take a city tour in Hà Nội during the DPRK-USA Summit in February. The Prime Minister has noted that over the past five years, international integration has helped build a peaceful domestic environment. — VNA/VNS Photo Quang Hải

HÀ NỘI — Individuals and businesses alike should be the subject of international integration, Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc said during a teleconference on Tuesday.

The cause of international integration will only achieve success with constructive and effective participation of all individuals and businesses, the leader said. 

He urged the entire political system and agencies at all levels to show stronger resolve in order to push ahead with international integration efforts. 

Economic integration must increase internal force, which is also a core task, the PM said, adding that integration in other spheres must support economic integration.  

Regarding integration in politics and national defence and security, he emphasised the need to deepen both bilateral and multilateral relations and bring into full play the role of multilateral diplomacy. 

In culture-society, education-training, and science-technology integration, PM Phúc said technology and talents will decide the success of competition in the 21st century, and underlined the significance of learning to raise internal forces in line with common practices and standards. 

During international integration, the role of localities and businesses should be carried forward and must be able to benefit from the cause, the leader said. 

He highlighted the remarkable achievements that Việt Nam has recorded in international integration over the past five years, saying the cause has contributed to consolidating a peaceful domestic environment, optimising favourable international factors to serve the country’s development, maintaining the stable social and political environment, and promoting the country’s image and culture. 

Through integration, Việt Nam has persistently and resolvedly preserved its independence, national sovereignty, reunification, and territorial integrity, as well as rights and interests of the nation, people, and businesses. 

“We don’t avoid differences, but actively engage in dialogues and struggle to protect our legitimate interests,” he said. 

The PM said integration has served as important momentum to spur growth and socio-economic development, increase national strength, and heighten the country’s position and prestige in the world. 

A total of 71 countries have recognised Việt Nam’s market economy status, he said, adding that 11 of the free trade agreements (FTAs) that Việt Nam has signed have now come into force. 

The country is working with the EU to accelerate the adoption of the Việt Nam-EU FTA and negotiating four other FTAs.

These pacts will be an important foundation for Vietnamese goods and services to access the incentives of 59 partner markets, while creating favourable conditions for the country to attract foreign direct investment, generate jobs, and boost economic development. 

Over the past five years, public awareness of international integration has been significantly improved, he noted. 

The PM, however, pointed out limitations in the cause, saying Việt Nam’s strategic geo-economic position has yet to be optimised and coordination between ministries, agencies, and localities have yet to bring high efficiency. 

In addition, low management capacity and limited public access to relevant information are among the key problems hindering the cause, he said. — VNS