Geneva, December 12:

Vietnam will formally join the World Trade Organisation (WTO) on January 11, becoming the body’s 150th member, officials said here today.

The southeast Asian nation has informed the WTO that it has ratified its membership agreement, and will take up its seat one month hence, the global trade body said in a statement. The move followed the approval last month by Vietnam’s Communist-dominated national assembly, finalising Hanoi’s almost 12-year-long drive to join the WTO.

At the time, WTO director general Pascal Lamy hailed the country’s efforts and determination to achieve membership.