Apec’s impact on Vietnam
IN 1989, the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Forum (Apec) was launched to meet the dynamic development of the Asia-Pacific region, based on three pillars: trade and investment liberalisation; business facilitation; and economic and technical cooperation (Ecotech).
Apec sets Bogor Goal: liberalisation and openness to trade and investment will be fully implemented by developed member economies by 2010 and developing ones by 2020.
With deep and rapid changes in the region and in the world, from the early 2000s until now, Apec has expanded its scope of concern such as issues of inclusive and green growth; energy security; environment and climate change; diseases; labour migration; and human trafficking.
Apec has contributed significantly to the conclusion of the Uruguay Round with the advent of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 1994, setting out initiatives to integrate and promote trade and investment in Asia and the Pacific – a foundation for growth and prosperity in the region.
Although the effectiveness of the implementation of Apec commitments is constrained by a lack of resources and a “soft” regulations such as basic principles of voluntary/non-binding consensus, Apec still has many support mechanisms for member economies.
Becoming an Apec member has had a positive impact on the process of reform, integration and development of Vietnam. Of the 16 Free Trade Agreements (FTA) in Vietnam, whether they have been implemented or in the process of negotiation, 13 are FTAs with economies in the Asia Pacific region. Currently, 13 Apec members are either strategic or comprehensive partners of Vietnam, while this figure was only two in 2006.
In 2005, 66 per cent of foreign direct investment (FDI) to Vietnam came from Apec member economies. The figure in 2016 is 80 per cent. The country’s trade value with the region also increased from 65 per cent to over 80 per cent of total trade value.
Participation in Apec marked an important milestone in the country’s open diplomatic policy, multilateralisation, diversification and international integration.
Apec 2017 - a success of Vietnam
Since joining the Apec in 1998, Vietnam has also had specific contributions to the Asia-Pacific’s regional connection process. The country is one of the active members proposing and participating in more than 70 initiatives in almost every field (trade, investment, emergency response, health, anti-terrorism . . .), and has held several key positions in Apec.
In 2017, Vietnam hosted the Apec forum for the second time. This is the country’s biggest diplomatic event of the year and the most remarkable as it hosted the summit amid complicated developments of the world and regional situation.
While the protectionism and a trend of anti-trade liberalisation are emerging, Apec really needs a new momentum for growth and sustainable development. It is time for Apec to prepare for the Apec Vision post-2020.
At the same time, Apec must adequately address a wide range of socioeconomic issues such as poverty, underemployment and inequality. Therefore, the summit this time was expected to solve new problems for the process of globalisation. That is how trade and investment liberalisation would be able to not only bring benefits, but also distribute them equitably between economies, between social groups in an economy while still be capable to adapt to new trends, such as the Fourth Industrial Revolution.
Success in Apec Vietnam 2017 is a result of tremendous efforts and many remarkable achievements were highly appreciated by the international community. The Apec 2017’s theme Creating new dynamism, fostering a shared future together with four priorities (Promoting sustainable, creative and inclusive growth; Strengthening regional economic links; Improving the competitiveness and creativity of micro, small and medium enterprises in the digital age; Enhancing food security and sustainable agriculture adapt to climate change) received high consensus from all Apec member economies. This is the first premise for Vietnam to successfully organise the forum.
One of the event’s unforgettable success was that despite a number of obstacles, the remaining 11 Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) members (after the US withdrew from the TPP) were unanimous to fast adopt the Comprehensive and Progressive Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP). The consensus helped revive a trade pact of which the demise was forecast to be likely after the US’ withdrawal and confirmed the commitments of Apec member economies to trade liberalisation.
Apec 2017 showed the country’s efforts to continuously innovate, reform and deepen its integration. This event affirmed the prestige and position of the country in the international community.
Reform mandate and Apec role
With more than 30 years of Doi moi (Renewal), Vietnam has achieved remarkable achievements. From a lowincome country where most people was living below the poverty line, Vietnam has become a low-middle income country since 2010, and the poverty rate last year was only four to five per cent.
From a major agricultural-based economy with the agriculture sector accounting for more than 40 per cent of GDP in the early 1990s, Vietnam has shifted sharply towards manufacturing and services industries, while still maintaining its position as one of the largest agricultural producers and exporters (although agricultural production last year only accounted for less than 15 per cent of GDP).
In particular, from a planned, closed economy, Vietnam has gradually shifted to a market economy, integrating strongly with a very high level of open- ness in terms of trade in goods relative to GDP (about 190 per cent in 2017) and in term of the role of the FDI sector in the economy.
However, Vietnam is facing many challenges of development. Growth quality and productivity remain a big question. The private sector is basically rising but weak. Vietnamese enterprises are in the low position in the global value chains while spillover effects of the foreign direct investment sector on technology and skills are limited. Income gap is widening, especially in some remote areas, the percentage of poor people among population is still high. The environment is polluted and degraded in many areas.
Vietnam’s aspiration is to become a modern, prosperous, creative, equitable, and democratic middle-income country in 2035. The Vietnam 2035 report by the World Bank and the Ministry of Planning and Investment (2016) identifies six areas for Vietnam to make a breakthrough, including: institutional reform; enhancing the competitiveness of the private sector; innovation; social inclusion; “green” growth and sustainable development; and urbanisation.
Integration and domestic reform are the two most important pillars for Vietnam’s development. Joining APEC is a strategic choice in the country’s integration process. The engagement is to understand, to know how to “play” and to “actively play” with the world and especially in a playing field with many regional and global powers.
Although there are times when confidence in Apec’s value declines and despite concerns about the practicality of some Apec activities and even the debate on the suitability of the Apec institution itself, values of Apec is still acknowledged and increasingly proven by time.
In the new context, Apec can also provide added value to Vietnam. Basically, Apec’s idea of sustainable, creative and inclusive development and a vision of new trends for Apec post-2020 is very compatible with Vietnam’s policies.
As such, Vietnam would have more favourable conditions to contribute as a responsible, active member, and thereby the position, strength and prestige of Vietnam in the region and in the international arena would be further enhanced as Apec 2017 has once demonstrated.