ABSTRACT
Significant steps also have been made in joining regional and multilateral organizations. Vietnam joined the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN) in 1995, and commenced its commitments to ASEAN Free Trade Area (AFTA) in 1996. The country became a member of the Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation (APEC) in 1998 and began its commitments under APEC in 1999. The government submitted application for World Trade Organization (WTO) membership in 1995, and has since negotiated on conditions for joining this multilateral body. Vietnam also concluded trade pacts with its important partners, including a framework agreement on economic cooperation with the EU signed in 1995, and a bilateral trade agreement (BTA) with the US signed in 2000.
