(VOVworld) – Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung chaired the first meeting of the national steering committee for international integration in Hanoi on Tuesday. Discussions focused on tasks for this year and directions for Vietnam’s multilateral diplomacy towards 2020.

Prime Minister Dung, who is Committee President, said Vietnam needed to integrate further in all areas with economics being the center in the interests of Vietnam’s short and long-term benefit. He said more active integration in politics, diplomacy, security, and national defense would increase mutual trust and understanding between Vietnam and its partners, helping to build a peaceful and stable environment for development and safeguard national independence and sovereignty.

He called for greater efforts to accelerate negotiations on new free trade agreements and make the most of overseas remittances for national development and defense. Concerning Vietnam’s multilateral diplomacy, he urged full compliance with international practices in line with the UN Charter and more active participation in international conventions and multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations and ASEAN.