Geneva, July 28, 2026 – The Europe Today: Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyễn Văn Thắng has reaffirmed Vietnam’s commitment to an open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based multilateral trading system, with the World Trade Organization (WTO) at its core, during a working visit to Switzerland.
In a meeting with WTO Deputy Director-General Jennifer DJ Nordquist on July 27, Thắng highlighted Vietnam’s active role within the WTO, citing the country’s ratification of the first phase of the Agreement on Fisheries Subsidies, its negotiations to join the expanded Information Technology Agreement (ITA2), and preparations for its upcoming Trade Policy Review scheduled for late 2026.
Addressing current global economic challenges, the Deputy Prime Minister outlined three key priorities for the WTO. He called for continued reform of global trade rules to reflect emerging trends while taking into account the development needs of developing countries. He also urged the full restoration of the WTO’s dispute settlement mechanism to strengthen predictability, transparency, and confidence in the multilateral trading system. In addition, he advocated expanding the WTO agenda to address emerging issues such as digital trade, artificial intelligence, green transition, climate change, and supply chain resilience, alongside enhanced capacity-building support for developing economies.
Thắng also presented Vietnam’s long-term development strategy, stating that the country aims to become a high-income developed nation by 2045 and is targeting annual economic growth of at least 10 percent between 2026 and 2030.
He said Vietnam is accelerating reforms in institutions, infrastructure, science and technology, and investment mobilization, including the development of the Vietnam International Financial Centre under a “one centre, two locations” model in Ho Chi Minh City and Da Nang. The initiative will be supported by free trade zones, regulatory sandboxes, and a business-friendly legal framework.
The Deputy Prime Minister expressed hope that the WTO would continue supporting Vietnam through advanced trade policy training, legal advisory services for international dispute settlement, and trade facilitation programs to strengthen the country’s export competitiveness, attract high-quality investment, and fulfill its international commitments.
For her part, WTO Deputy Director-General Jennifer DJ Nordquist commended Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements and ongoing reforms to improve the business environment and deepen international economic integration. She emphasized the importance of transparency in policymaking and encouraged Vietnam to keep the WTO Secretariat informed of legislative and trade-related policy developments.
Nordquist affirmed that the WTO would continue supporting Vietnam’s integration into the global economy, including cooperation on the country’s Trade Policy Review in November, technical assistance programs related to ITA2, and consideration of Vietnam’s participation in the Investment Facilitation for Development (IFD) Agreement.
During the meeting, Deputy Prime Minister Thắng also invited Nordquist to visit Vietnam to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.
Later the same day, Thắng met with World Economic Forum (WEF) Co-Chair of the Board of Trustees Andre Hoffmann, where he highlighted Vietnam’s strong economic performance, noting GDP growth of more than 8.2 percent during the first half of the year.
He underscored Vietnam’s significant financing requirements for its next development phase and called on the WEF to continue promoting public-private partnerships while connecting the Vietnamese Government with leading multinational corporations and global investors.
Building on successful cooperation, including the establishment of the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR) in Ho Chi Minh City and the successful Autumn Economic Forum 2025, Thắng proposed developing a Vietnam–WEF Cooperation Programme for 2026–2030 focused on science, technology, innovation, and the development of a modern financial ecosystem.
He also suggested making the Autumn Economic Forum an annual event, strengthening engagement between Vietnam and international businesses and financial institutions, and encouraging greater corporate participation in APEC 2027 activities.
Andre Hoffmann praised Vietnam as one of Asia’s most dynamic economies with considerable potential in digital transformation, innovation, and international financial services. He reaffirmed the WEF’s commitment to supporting Vietnam by strengthening links with multinational companies, financial institutions, and global business networks, while sharing expertise in financial centres, regulatory innovation, artificial intelligence, public-private partnerships, and workforce development.
Hoffmann also expressed confidence in Vietnam’s ability to successfully host the APEC Economic Leaders’ Week in 2027 and looked forward to welcoming senior Vietnamese leaders to the WEF Annual Meeting in Davos that year.
Concluding his visit, Deputy Prime Minister Thắng met with staff at the Vietnamese Embassy in Switzerland, commending their efforts to deepen bilateral relations, including progress toward establishing a Comprehensive Partnership and concluding the Vietnam–European Free Trade Association (EFTA) Free Trade Agreement, which is expected to be signed in October.
With 2026 marking the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Switzerland, Thắng urged the embassy to further strengthen cooperation by leveraging Switzerland’s position as a leading global financial hub, enhancing engagement with Swiss government agencies, financial institutions, businesses, research organizations, and investors, while maximizing opportunities offered by the forthcoming Vietnam–EFTA trade agreement to expand markets and diversify supply chains.
