Vietnam is taking measures to promote the negotiations of a free trade agreement (FTA) with the Southern Common Market (MERCOSUR), which is expected to be a driving force for Vietnam to tap the Latin American market, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien said.

Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and President of the National Council of Switzerland Martin Candinas had a meeting in Hanoi on June 30, sharing the view that the two countries should further step up economic, trade, and investment links.

Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien held talks with Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao on June 28, as part of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s official visit to China and attendance at the 14th Annual Meeting of the New Champions of the World Economic Forum (WEF) from June 25-28.

There remained big challenges in Vietnam's exports to China, as the market has been and will continue to impose higher requirements on both export and import standards, said Tran Quang Huy, Director of the Ministry of Industry and Trade’s Asia-Africa Market Department.

Vietnam always considers the United Arab Emirates (UAE) as one of its most important partners in the Middle East, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien told Ambassador of the UAE to Vietnam Bader Almatrooshi at a reception for the diplomat on May 19 in Hanoi.

Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien and Director-General of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Ngozi Okonjo-Iweal agreed to promote the multilateral trading system and other agendas being launched by the organisation, during their working session in Hanoi on May 18.

Sweden is an important Northern European market of Vietnam, and there remains much potential for the two countries to continue expanding bilateral trade, Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien told Swedish Ambassador to Vietnam Ann Måwe on May 9.

Vietnamese Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien had a working session with Australian Minister for Trade and Tourism Don Farrell in Hanoi on April 17, discussing specific measures to enhance economic and commercial ties and effectively implement the Vietnam - Australia Enhanced Economic Engagement Strategy.

A conference on promoting trade, investment and economic cooperation between Vietnam and China’s Hainan province took place in the local Haikou city on April 10, attended by the sides’ officials and approximately 120 enterprises.

A delegation led by Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien attended the opening ceremony of the third China International Consumer Products Expo in Haikou city of Hainan province on April 10.