Accompanying localities to realizing their aspirations
WVR - With the enthusiasm and creative mind of a relatively young unit - only “10 years old”, the Department of Foreign Affairs of Provinces has and will always accompany localities on their journey of development.
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| The Department of Foreign Affairs (Ministry of Foreign Affairs) and the Canadian Business Association in Vietnam (CanCham) signed a Memorandum of Cooperation, August 2023. |
We are honored to witness the significant achievements made by localities regarding external affairs over the past time, marking remarkable imprints, and contributing significantly to the mobilization of external resources in service of short-term socio-economic recovery and long-term sustainable development.
Diversification of partnerships
From the standpoint of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Provinces, an unit under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MOFA) in charge of localities’ external affairs, our specialized work has undergone substantial transformations in the past two years, evidently:
In terms of content, with a focus on diplomacy in service of economic recovery and development, we strive to design programs centered around contemporary, urgent themes that reflect the zeitgeist—topics that no country, locality, or enterprise can sideline. These include green growth, sustainable development, digital transformation, circular economy, and more.
We have also intensified diversification of partnerships. On the one hand, we continue to leverage established, traditional partners while seeking opportunities for cooperation with new partners like countries in the Middle East, as well as Thailand, Indonesia, India, Israel, among others.
Furthermore, regarding training programs under the Project on professional training in foreign affairs and foreign languages, translation and interpretation for localities’ civil servants and officials working in foreign affairs in the 2021-2025 period, we strive for innovation by incorporating new topics such as: “Building localities’ brands in foreign affairs”, “Diplomacy in service of national development”, etc., aiming to enhance the advisory capabilities of officials directly engaged in external affairs and international integration at the local level.
The Department of Foreign Affairs of Provinces is incorporating new cooperational contents that are emerging trends in the world not limited to events, but also in advisory and guiding documents for localities, especially commenting documents on signing international cooperation agreements at the local level.
A significant highlight in the past two years, notably in 2023, fulfilling our role as the unit in charge of in constructing plans to enhance the “coverage” of MOFA across localities, the Department has organized a number of meetings between leaders of the ministries with leadership of various provinces/cities nationwide. We also issued cooperation programs on foreign affairs among MOFA and localities, consisting of comprehensive and extensive contents. These reflect the strong commitment of the ministry, with periodic evaluation mechanisms, to enhance implementation effectiveness and contribute substantially to socio-economic development goals of localities.
Formally, the return of in-person events is the results of the astute leadership of the Party, the resolute and effective direction of the Government, and the involvement of the entire government system. This poses as a favourable conditions for us to promote our strengths in organizing major events with the branding of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Provinces, Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the past 10 years. Simultaneously, we continue to utilize online platforms for wider outreach and support localities in organizing investment, trade, tourism, and cultural exchange events.
A new aspect is through our extensive network, we provide support to localities in terms of inviting and bringing in foreign delegations, including diplomatic missions and and foreign business associations to to experience local products and brands, namely Ninh Binh’s heritage sites, Hai Duong’s lychee, and Hung Yen’s longan. In the past two years, the continuous requests from Ninh Binh province for MOFA’s support in international connection serve as an immense encouragement and affirmation for us.
A reliable trailblazer and partner
If foreign affairs serve as the vanguard in mobilizing external resources for national development, our concern is always on how to become the spearhead in accompanying and supporting localities and businesses in the most efficient manner. Being proactive, explorative, and pioneering characterizes our approach. For us, our presence isn’t merely contingent on the needs of localities.
In the coming time, to further enhance effeciency, the Department will work with localities to closely monitor global and domestic trends and developments and apply in a creative manner the Party’s policies and guidelines for socio-economic development and foreign affairs, tailored to the specific conditions of each locality.
On that basis, we will come up with specific plans and projects for each field of foreign affairs, and for each foreign partners, especially crucial and potential ones for the development of localities and businesses. Alongside traditional fields of work, we will boldly explore new domains, seek fresh partners, and pursue more effective directions, aiming to produce more tangible results for localities. We are also trying to explore new products for effective international connection for localities and businesses, promoting progress post events and meetings.
With the philosophy of accompanying, supporting and serving, we consider the accomplishment of localities as our joy and motivation in our work. The years 2022-2023 have showcased considerable progress compared to preceding years, yet we aspire for even greater success in the coming years, especially amid the realization of goals set forth in the 13th Party Congress.
On the occasion of the 21st Foreign Affairs Conference, let’s recall the reminder of President Ho Chi Minh, Vietnam’s first Minister of Foreign Affairs: “All success comes from collective efforts”.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son also emphasized: “Localities’ external relations can only play their role effectively with the support and consensus of local authorities, departments, and branches, as well as the guidance, coordination, and assistance of central agencies.”
A new developmental phase of numerous victories will be collectively built through our shared efforts, involving MOFA and localities. In this hopeful prospect, with the fervor of a “young unit,” the fire in our hearts, and a creatively charged mindset, the Department of Foreign Affairs of Provinces will continue to be the avant-garde and reliable companion on the journey to realizing the developmental aspirations of localities and of the nation as a whole.
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