The 11th World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference opened in Buenos Aires, Argentina on December 10 with the participation of more than 400 delegates from 164 member countries.
The Vietnamese delegation at the conference (Source: VNA)
Buenos Aires (VNA) – The 11th World TradeOrganisation (WTO) Ministerial Conference opened in Buenos Aires, Argentina onDecember 10 with the participation of more than 400 delegates from 164 membercountries.
The Vietnamese delegation was led by Deputy Minister of Industry andTrade Tran Quoc Khanh, and joined by Ambassador Duong Chi Dung, Head of theVietnamese Permanent Mission to the UN, the WTO and other international organisationsin Geneva, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Dang Xuan Dung.
Opening the event, WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo lauded thecontributions of member countries in facilitating global trade, especiallyamidst the global economic crisis.
He affirmed the WTO will stick to multilateralism, while calling formembers’ greater flexibility in negotiations for global trade issues.
He also acknowledged there are large differences in negotiations, aswell as the threat of trade protectionism. He stressed the need to improve themultilateral trade system, an important factor for world economic growth andstability.
Azevedo also called for WTO members to strengthen their commitments tothe world trade system, while focusing on developing human resources,protecting the environment and ensuring gender equality and social equality.
At the conference, Argentinean Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie delivered aBuenos Aires Joint Statement, which was signed by 10 countries.
The nearly 180 foreign ministers at the conference will have fourworking days to discuss food security, agriculture development, fisheriessupport, e-commerce and tax on industrial products.
On the sidelines of the event, a number of conferences will also beheld, including a workshop on sustainable trade and development, a businessforum and a WTO parliamentarian conference. The EU and the North Americancommon market (Mercosur) are expected to issue a joint statement on theoutcomes of negotiations for their free trade agreement.-VNA
Director General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Roberto Azevedo has expressed his admiration for Vietnam’s socio-economic achievements over the past time as well as the country’s marked strides in international integration and trade liberalization.
The election of a Vietnamese ambassador as Chairman of the World Intellectual Property Organisation (WIPO) General Assembly, with the support of all member countries, has shown Vietnam’s growing stature in the global arena.
The DES Ministry will seek cooperation from social media platforms to prevent the spread of fake news and monitor accounts related to such activities, he told reporters after chairing a meeting of the newly established Anti-Fake News Centre (AFNC).
The Joint Standing Committee on Commerce, Industry and Banking identified the US tariff reduction as a significant driver behind the improved economic outlook for Thailand.
Financial institutions and financial technology (fintech) players are intensifying their focus on expanding across the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), adopting tailored strategies to strengthen their presence in the region’s digital financial services landscape.
Featuring a permanent exhibition area, the ASEAN Hall will function both as a cultural showcase and as a dynamic venue for ASEAN-related events and programmes. Its inauguration on ASEAN Day added symbolic weight, marking a fresh milestone in ASEAN–RoK relations.
Thailand’s Ministry of Commerce and rice exporters are devising strategic plans to boost rice exports amid global market fluctuations, focusing on key markets and adjusting output.
The focus of the upcoming ASEAN Summit in October will be on strengthening economic relations through intra-regional trade and investment, as well as regional initiatives on energy networks and connectivity.
Indonesian Ambassador Rina P. Soemarno, who currently serves as Chair of the ASEAN Committee in Prague, emphasised the spirit of regional solidarity and cooperation, and the importance of enhancing ASEAN–Czech Republic relations.
The Indonesian Government is determined to seize opportunities to enhance the competitiveness of national agricultural products, an official has said, adding that it always strives to promote exports at the highest possible level, based on a mutually beneficial foundation.
Finance Minister Pichai Chunhavajira has outlined a six-point strategy to promote innovation, support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), and push for Thailand's removal from the US Trade Representative (USTR)’s special 301 Watch List regarding intellectual property rights protection among trading partners.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Israel Ly Duc Trung emphasised ASEAN’s central role in regional mechanisms such as the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the East Asia Summit (EAS), highlighting its significant contribution to promoting peace, stability, and prosperity in Southeast Asia.
The consumer index of the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC), fell to 51.7 in July from 52.7 in the previous month. The sluggish economy and the trade war, as well as high living costs, continue to undermine confidence, the university said.
Deputy Speaker of the Hungarian National Assembly Istvan Jakab expressed his hope for further deepening Hungary’s ties with ASEAN countries and called for their support for Hungary’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia.
The 30-storey tower crumbled seconds after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake hit neighbouring Myanmar on March 28. The partially built high-rise, meant to house the State Audit Office (SAO), was the only building in Thailand to collapse, killing 89 people on the site, mostly construction workers.
Indonesia’s waste generation is projected to exceed 50 million tonnes in 2025. Of the total, more than 20 million tonnes could potentially enter the ocean through rivers, coastal areas, small islands, ports, and marine activities, and thereby, pose a risk to coastal ecosystems and marine biota.
Indonesia is accelerating plans to increase lithium imports, particularly from Australia, in a bid to fill gaps in the electric vehicle (EV) battery supply chain and realise its ambition of becoming a global EV manufacturing hub.
Malaysia’s gross expenditure on R&D (GERD) reached 1.01% of gross domestic product in 2022, a notable increase, with more than 51% contributed by the industry sector. The country is targeting GERD to reach 2.5% by 2030, in line with the national goal of transforming into a high-technology nation.
The facility was established in response to a growing shift in the Filipino labour force from the Middle East to Japan, where workers are seeking safer working environments.
In the latest Indonesia-US trade agreement in July, the US administration agreed to reduce the reciprocal tariff, which was initially set at 32% by US President Donald Trump last April, to 19%.
Real estate agency ERA Singapore estimated that there are 2,703 condo developments in Singapore today, of which 836 or 31% are at least 30 years old. In 10 years, this number is expected to climb to 1,160, assuming none is sold en bloc.
The Vietnamese delegation at the conference (Source: VNA) 
