Vietnam observer at GATT

Vietnam observer at GATT

GENEVA (AFP): The world trade body GATT has awarded Vietnam observer status, the Geneva-based organization said.

Vietnam's ambassador to international organizations in Geneva, Nguyen Luong, said his country wanted to become a full member of GATT, or the successor World Trade Organization, when it is set up next year.

He said that thanks to economic reforms under way in Vietnam since 1989, external trade has grown 20 percent per year and foreign investment has mushroomed.

The GATT council also approved a report of a working group on the admission of Slovenia as a full member -- the last stage before its admission to the organization, a GATT spokesman said.