Deputy Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn (Centre) speaks at a roundtable discussion in Hà Nội Friday.— Photo vov.vn

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam’s international integration will be intensified over the next five years, Deputy Foreign Minister Bùi Thanh Sơn said at a roundtable discussion in Hà Nội Friday.
The talks on Việt Nam’s international integration attracted more than 50 delegates, including foreign ambassadors and representatives of diplomatic corps, foreign organisations, research institutes, businesses and localities.
Sơn underlined the country’s consistent policy of comprehensive and intensive integration in all spheres, focusing on international economic integration.
In the new phase of development, Việt Nam would intensify its integration through its economy, politics, defence, security, culture and society, Sơn said. It would enhance its integration into the region through the ASEAN Community and into the world through multilateral diplomacy.
"Việt Nam, as a developing nation, attaches importance to south-south co-operation and is willing to play a greater role in fostering these efforts by sharing its experiences in đổi mới (renewal), socio-economic development and international integration," the official noted.
Pratibha Mehta, UN Resident Co-ordinator in Việt Nam, said international integration had strongly contributed to the country’s socio-economic development and diplomatic stature.
Việt Nam’s achievements in realising the Millennium Development Goals were precious lessons that should be shared with other countries, particularly developing ones, to help implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, Mehta said. That would also demonstrate Việt Nam’s active role in promoting south-south co-operation.
At the roundtable, participants said that in order to facilitate international integration, Việt Nam would need assistance from the international community. It was also important to step up reforms, especially institutional reforms, fine-tune the legal system, train manpower and assist vulnerable fields amid the intensive integration period, participants said.
In addition, support from a developed partner would help Việt Nam effectively contribute to south-south co-operation, especially sharing skills and experiences in carrying out the Sustainable Development Goals, they added. — VNS