Vietnam is now close to finishing bilateral negotiations needed to join the World Trade Organization (WTO), the country's chief negotiator Luong Van Tu announced in Geneva on Monday.

The only remaining agreements are with the United States and Mexico, and following talks with the United States over the weekend, "we're very close to the final deal," Luong said.

He added that only a few minor differences were left in Vietnam 's bilateral negotiations with Mexico.

Vietnam has also moved into final stages in its talks with the WTO Working Party which is responsible for its accession qualifications, said Norway's ambassador to the WTO, Eirik Glenne, who chairs the party.

The bilateral market access talks are only part of the picture. The Working Party also has to agree on a report covering the future member's actions, obligations and commitments under all WTO agreements.

Glenne said the Working Party of over 40 WTO members (counting the EU as one) would now accelerate its discussions with Vietnam with the aim of producing a final report in the next few weeks or months.

"This is a reflection of the fact that this accession is now entering an intensive phase," he said.

Source: Xinhua