Viet Nam, New Zealand discusses US's Indo-Pacific Economic Framework
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien had a phone conversation with New Zealand Minister for Trade and Export Growth Damien O'Connor on March 17 to discuss the US’s initiative in building the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF).
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| Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien (centre) at the event. (Photo: congthuong.vn) |
The IPEF is designed to serve the Indo-Pacific Strategy, which was announced by the US on February 2 this year towards five main goals – freedom and openness, connectivity, prosperity, security and resilience.
At the talks, Dien said the initiative covers many new and non-traditional issues that Viet Nam is interested in, such as supply chain development, and investment in infrastructure and the environment.
However, because its content is quite diverse with many new issues, the framework needs to be flexible in terms of how to participate and the level of participation; and to be adjusted in accordance with the institutions and interests of each participating country, the minister said.
According to the US plan, the framework is expected to be announced at the end of March at an event hosted by President Joe Biden, with the presence of high-ranking officials from other nations.
Dien said that from Viet Nam’s point of view, countries should have enough time to study the IPEF's content, thereby deciding to join or not. It is also necessary for the IPEF to have as diverse as possible participation of countries in the region, especially ASEAN member states, he added.
The official proposed that New Zealand and other nations offer technical assistance to Viet Nam, particularly concerning the framework’s new fields.
He hoped Viet Nam and New Zealand would work closely together to build stances and express them to the US and other countries, especially in areas of common interest such as agriculture.
Minister O’Connor agreed with Dien on such cooperation.
Both sides believe that the development of this cooperation framework requires consultation at a higher level.
In February this year, the US sent to Viet Nam a draft document of the IPEF, which mentions four pillars that the US wants to work towards in a framework with other countries. The pillars are fair and resilient trade; supply chain resilience; infrastructure, clean energy and decarbonization; and taxation and anti-corruption.
(Source: VNA)
