Bac Ninh's external relations in the new era: Both a responsibility and a resource
WVR - Speaking with the World and Vietnam Report on the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic sector (28/8/1945-28/8/2025), Mr. Le Huu Nam, Deputy Chief of the Office of the Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee, affirmed that Bac Ninh's external relations have brought practical results, significantly contributing to the province's comprehensive development in various fields: economy, society, culture...
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| Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee Vuong Quoc Tuan attended the Vietnam-Korea Economic Forum with the theme "Cooperation in Developing Production hains in the New Era". (Source: Bacninh.gov) |
Could you share the economic and social highlights of Bac Ninh province after the merger?
The newly established Bac Ninh province covers a natural area of 4,718.6 km2, with a projected population of over 3.57 million by 2025, ranking 9th nationwide. The working-age population is approximately 1.84 million, accounting for 51.4%. Post-merger, the province's economic scale is about 522 trillion VND (estimated in 2025), ranking 5th nationwide.
Bac Ninh is part of the Northern Key Economic Region, serving as the northeastern gateway to Hanoi, located on the major economic corridor Lang Son - Hanoi - Ho Chi Minh City, along with the important trans-Asian corridor from Nanning to Singapore. Together with Hanoi, Hai Phong, and Quang Ninh, Bac Ninh forms a continuous chain, acting as a focal point and core for the socio-economic development of the region and Northeast Vietnam, while also fostering trade, tourism, service linkages, and the supply and consumption of large-scale goods nationwide and globally.
With numerous advantages, Bac Ninh is currently the second leading locality in Vietnam for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI), with over 3,200 projects and more than 45 billion USD in capital. The province is not only an ideal destination but has become a reliable hub, a starting point for global corporations like Samsung, Foxconn, Amkor, Hana Micron, Canon, Goertek, and a key stronghold for many leading semiconductor corporations worldwide.
In the first half of 2025, Bac Ninh's (new) GRDP growth rate reached 10.5%, ranking 5th nationwide.
Simultaneously, industrial production is a highlight in the province's economic development. The total production value of the entire industry (at current prices) is estimated at 1,087,328 billion VND. Some key products have maintained increased production compared to the same period in 2024, such as smartphones, animal feed, iron, and steel for construction...
The province currently has 33 established industrial parks with a total area of 6,401 hectares; 96 industrial clusters have been established with a total area of 3,709 hectares. Since the beginning of the year, the province has approved 153 new domestic projects with registered capital of 245,603 billion VND and 254 FDI projects with registered capital of 1,191.4 million USD.
Import-export activities have surged, with total import-export turnover in the first six months reaching nearly 78.5 billion USD; exports reached nearly 40 billion USD, up 27.4% compared to the same period; imports reached 38.5 billion USD, up 35% compared to the same period.
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What notable achievements has Bac Ninh made in external relations work and international cooperation recently?
The achievements in the province's socio-economic development have significantly benefited from external relations work, notably the skillful combination of political diplomacy, economic diplomacy, and investment promotion both domestically and internationally.
After the merger, the new Bac Ninh province proactively grasped domestic and international developments, closely following important foreign affairs tasks, ensuring the comprehensive implementation of foreign affairs across all aspects: politics, economy, culture, information dissemination, consular affairs, citizen protection, and work with overseas Vietnamese...
Recently, the Provincial People's Committee has issued documents and plans on foreign affairs, such as directives to implement Plan No. 24-KH/TW on the Vietnam-Laos high-level agreement; the plan to organize the Vietnam Discovery Day program in 2025; the plan of the Provincial People's Committee to implement Resolution No. 153/NQ-CP dated May 31, 2025, of the Government issuing the Action Program to implement Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2025, of the Politburo on international integration in the new situation.
Some notable foreign affairs achievements of Bac Ninh province from the beginning of the year are as follows: Firstly, international integration efforts. Regarding cooperation with foreign localities, Bac Ninh province is currently implementing 24 provincial-level agreements signed with foreign localities, enterprises, and organizations, including 12 agreements with foreign localities such as Xay Sombun and Hua Phan provinces (Laos); Chungcheongnam and Daegu provinces (South Korea); Nanning city, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region (China); Marzahn district of Berlin, Berlin capital (Germany); East Kazakhstan (Kazakhstan)... and the Provincial People's Committee inherits 8 district-level agreements.
The province continues to promote cultural and tourism activities as a member of the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia-Pacific Cities (TPO) since June 2023 and a member of the Mayors for Peace Organization since July 2023; as of July 28, 2025, the province has not joined any new international organizations.
In economic diplomacy, since the beginning of the year, the leadership of the Provincial People's Committee and the Office of the Provincial People's Committee have received about 20 foreign delegations visiting and working in the province, welcomed several business delegations to survey investment opportunities, and allowed provincial agencies and localities to work with many foreign delegations.
Bac Ninh province has conducted 6 delegations abroad to survey digital economy, digital technology, digital platforms, digital centers; promote investment and trade in China, Germany, France, Czech Republic, Poland... and participate in the delegation of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO in France.
Notably, Bac Ninh recently participated in a delegation led by General Secretary To Lam on a state visit to Republic of Korea. At the Vietnam-Korea Economic Forum, Alternate Member of the Party Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of Bac Ninh Provincial People's Committee Vuong Quoc Tuan met with Korean partners and businesses to discuss the province's strengths, preferential policies to attract investment, and the activities of Korean businesses in Bac Ninh.
On this occasion, Chairman Vuong Quoc Tuan signed a memorandum of understanding with SI FLEX Vietnam Co., Ltd. to expand the project in Quang Chau Industrial Park with an additional investment of about 200 million USD, raising the total investment of the project to 499 million USD.
The province organized two conferences to grant investment certificates to enterprises. Additionally, it hosted the forum "Science, Technology, Innovation, and Digital Transformation - Bac Ninh Breakthrough and Development" attended by the National Assembly Chairman and the conference meeting with private enterprises in the science and technology sector, attended by the Deputy Prime Minister; organized a conference to promote the consumption of lychee and key agricultural products of the province in the Chinese and American markets.
Through the external relations work's activities of provincial leaders at domestic and international events, the image and position of Bac Ninh as a province with great development potential, a safe and successful investment destination, have been recognized by international friends, contributing to promoting international friendship cooperation, boosting agricultural product exports; increasing the attraction of resources and foreign capital to develop the province's socio-economy.
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| Bac Ninh organized the program "Bac Ninh Cultural Quintessence - Dong Ho Colours" in Hanoi. (Source: Business Forum) |
Secondly, cultural diplomacy. Bac Ninh province is focused on promoting the image of Vietnam, its culture, and people to the international community through organizing events and festivals unique to the province; integrating these into meetings and working sessions of provincial leaders with international delegations; actively implementing communication, promotion, and advocacy for dossiers in foreign affairs and cultural diplomacy programs such as: Sending Quan ho folk artists and Dong Ho folk painting artisans to perform at the Prime Minister's program and his spouse's reception for heads of diplomatic missions and international organizations on the occasion of the Lunar New Year; coordinating with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO to organize the program "Bac Ninh Cultural Quintessence - Dong Ho Colours" in Hanoi; meeting and interacting with the ASEAN Women's Community Group in Hanoi.
Additionally, the province organized free tours to tourist attractions, historical and cultural relics, and typical craft villages in Bac Ninh from March to June 2025.
Notable cultural diplomacy activities abroad include organizing three delegations to promote Quan ho folk songs and Dong Ho folk paintings in Australia, China, France, and Germany. Notably, during the promotion program in France, the province organized two cultural promotion programs at the Vietnam Cultural Centre and at the UNESCO headquarters in Paris, France.
In 2025, the Provincial People's Committee sent delegates to join the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' delegation to attend the 221st session of the UNESCO Executive Board, work with UNESCO leaders, the International Council on Monuments and Sites, the World Heritage Committee to discuss the conservation and promotion of world heritage values; advocate for the nomination dossier of the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac Relic and Scenic Complex; coordinate with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the two provinces of Quang Ninh and Hai Duong to organize the "Vietnam Discovery Day 2025" program; welcome the diplomatic corps from 21 countries that are members of the World Heritage Committee to visit and work at Vinh Nghiem Pagoda. In July 2025, the Yen Tu - Vinh Nghiem - Con Son, Kiep Bac Relic and Scenic Complex was recognized as a World Cultural Heritage site.
Regarding the national nomination dossier "Dong Ho Folk Painting Craft" for recognition as an intangible cultural heritage in need of urgent safeguarding; currently, Bac Ninh province has updated the dossier according to UNESCO's new regulations, expected to be considered by UNESCO at the Intergovernmental Committee for the 2003 Convention meeting in New Delhi, India, scheduled for December 2025.
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Thirdly, external information work. Provincial media agencies have closely followed central directives on external information work; disseminated and popularized the Party's guidelines, state policies, and laws on external relations, focusing on international integration, national sovereignty, and territorial integrity; promoted the province's potential, strengths, and image; activities to build and develop cooperative relations, promote investment, cultural exchange, and external economic activities; and publicized events commemorating the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and other countries.
Since the beginning of the year, Bac Ninh province has welcomed two foreign press delegations for activities.
Fourthly, work with overseas Vietnamese. Bac Ninh province continues to implement the Project on Connecting, Attracting, and Promoting Resources of Overseas Vietnamese towards Homeland Construction; provincial agencies strengthen connections with Vietnamese associations and organizations abroad to introduce and support the consumption of the province's agricultural products overseas.
Communication and information work for overseas Vietnamese about their homeland is actively implemented by the provincial Fatherland Front, various levels, sectors, and bilateral friendship associations. Information channels for Bac Ninh people abroad are maintained, such as the bilingual Vietnamese-English provincial electronic portal; Bac Ninh Newspaper and Television in English and Chinese versions; Bac Ninh External Relations Newsletter of the Provincial People's Committee Office; the "People's External Relations" section on the provincial Fatherland Front's electronic information page...
The province is gradually building an electronic database of Bac Ninh-origin Vietnamese abroad to enhance the effectiveness of work with overseas Vietnamese.
Fifthly, work with foreign non-governmental organizations. Currently, there are 30 registered organizations operating in the province, with 10 organizations actively implementing activities, including 13 aid programs and projects being carried out.
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| Quan ho singers invite female ambassadors and heads of foreign representative missions in Vietnam to enjoy the Bac Ninh Quan ho folk song program. (Photo: Nguyen Hong) |
How have cooperation activities with international organizations and foreign localities contributed to Bac Ninh's economic, social, and cultural development?
Bac Ninh province clearly defines the role of external relations as both a responsibility and a resource. It can be affirmed that Bac Ninh's external relations have brought practical results - especially cooperation activities with international organizations and foreign localities - significantly contributing to the province's comprehensive development in various fields: economy, society, culture... aiming to enhance the position and image of a dynamic, creative province, attracting resources for economic development to successfully achieve the local socio-economic development goals.
Economically, agreements signed with international organizations and foreign localities have contributed to promoting investment attraction, expanding trade relations, and receiving advanced technology and modern management models. As a result, FDI in Bac Ninh has not only increased significantly in terms of project numbers and investment capital, but the investment wave from major countries in Asia such as Singapore, Japan, and Republic of Korea in software and semiconductor industries further highlights the significant qualitative changes in attracting FDI to the province.
Through cooperation programs with foreign organizations, the province has additional international resources to implement vocational training linked to employment, developing high-quality human resources for industrialization and modernization.
Moreover, trade promotion activities and business connections have contributed to boosting exports, forming global supply chains, and creating conditions for the development of supporting industries, logistics services, and economic infrastructure.
It can be said that international economic cooperation activities have helped Bac Ninh increase industrial and service production value, serving as an important driver for Bac Ninh to strive to become a high-tech industrial center of the country, driving rapid and sustainable economic growth.
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| International economic cooperation activities have helped Bac Ninh increase industrial and service production value. (Source: Vneconomy) |
Socially, many cooperation programs aim to support vulnerable groups and youth, thereby improving social welfare and expanding employment opportunities for residents. Agreements with foreign localities also help the province exchange and learn experiences in urban management, education, healthcare, environment... contributing to improving the quality of life and welfare for the people.
Friendship exchanges and twinning activities with foreign localities also contribute to building solidarity and friendship, creating social cohesion and enhancing the province's position and reputation.
Cultural-educational exchange programs, scholarships, student exchanges, and research cooperation have opened up opportunities to access new knowledge, improve human resource quality, and create a learning environment, promoting social progress towards Bac Ninh's comprehensive and sustainable development goals.
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| Cooperation activities with international organizations and foreign localities have significantly contributed to promoting and elevating the cultural value of Bac Ninh province. (Source: VNA) |
Culturally and in tourism: Cooperation activities with international organizations and foreign localities have significantly contributed to promoting and elevating the cultural value of Bac Ninh province. By participating in international organizations such as the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia-Pacific Cities (TPO) and the Mayors for Peace Organization, Bac Ninh has the opportunity to widely introduce Quan ho folk singing - an intangible cultural heritage of humanity - to international friends, affirming the province's position as the "cradle of Quan ho folk singing".
In international agreements signed with foreign localities, cultural exchange, cultural diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy contents are integrated. This not only creates conditions for artisans, officials, and the younger generation to access and learn the world's cultural essence but also helps spread Bac Ninh's unique cultural identity.
At the same time, these cooperation activities closely link culture with tourism and service development, forming unique tourism products from Quan ho folk singing, traditional craft villages, festivals, thereby turning culture into an important resource to promote socio-economic development. Additionally, international cooperation supports the province in preserving, digitizing, teaching, and promoting cultural heritage, contributing to preserving identity in the context of integration while exploiting culture as a "soft power" in external relations and sustainable development.
By participating in the Tourism Promotion Organization for Asia-Pacific Cities (TPO) and the Mayors for Peace Organization, Bac Ninh has had the opportunity to broadly promote the image of the Quan ho region to international friends, contributing to enhancing its position and reputation on the international stage and attracting more tourists.
Cultural-tourism exchange and cooperation activities not only create a bridge of friendship but also contribute to preserving and promoting the unique traditional cultural values of the locality, while forming new tourism products associated with the international integration process.
In the future, the province will continue to proactively and actively integrate deeply into the international community, expand local cooperation, concretize signed international agreements, sign new agreements targeting schools, research institutes, industry associations, focusing on high-tech, semiconductors, and human resource training, selectively attracting quality foreign investors to the province, encouraging large corporations to establish headquarters in the province...
At the same time, increase investment in building synchronous, modern infrastructure of international stature such as Gia Binh International Airport, a 120m wide highway... capable of welcoming major "eagles" from abroad. From there, build the image of a dynamic, creative, and developing Bac Ninh rising in the new era.
