17 July, 2007

Australia-Vietnam Joint Trade and Economic Cooperation Committee

Plan of Action

Australia and Vietnam will take forward the following priority issues prior to the next Joint Trade and Economic Cooperation Committee which will be hosted by Vietnam at a date to be agreed.  These priorities are consistent with the 1990 Agreement on Trade and Economic Co-operation between Australia and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam:

Trade and investment promotion

• Promoting Vietnam and Australia as investment destinations, building on Vietnam’s WTO accession and its implementation obligations
• Working together to enhance the environment for business including through regular participation by business in the meetings of the Joint Trade and Economic Cooperation Committee

Trade and investment facilitation

• Closer linkages between the sectors represented at the 2007 Joint Trade and Economic Cooperation Committee meeting:  financial services, education and training, and mining and related industries
• Supporting cooperation on standards and conformance, and on customs administration

Capacity building

• Cooperating further on the provision of technical advice and assistance on trade and investment-related issues, including through the multi-donor Beyond WTO program

Policy dialogue

• Enhancing dialogue on trade policy issues, including the WTO and APEC, through visits and bilateral dialogue in relevant fora

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