Vietnam has achieved important negotiation results with the United States and some other countries, hoping to enter the World Trade Organization (WTO) within this year, Vietnamese Foreign Ministry spokesman Le Dung said on Thursday.

Vietnam has reached substantial results when negotiating with the United States on its accession to the WTO, while the United States expressed its support for the accession during the trip to Washington by Vietnamese Prime Minister Phan Van Khai last month, the spokesman said in a regular press briefing.

"Vietnam and the United States will keep on negotiating in July," he said, noting that only some minor issues remain before the two sides can conclude the bilateral negotiation.

With progresses made during both multilateral and bilateral negotiations, especially those with the United States, China and Japan, Vietnam will become a WTO member soon, the spokesman stated.

"We hope to join the WTO as soon as possible. The year 2005 is the best."

Vietnam has so far wrapped up bilateral negotiations with the European Union, Cuba, Argentina, Brazil, Chile, Singapore, Uruguay, South Korea and Japan.

Source: Xinhua