Turning threats into opportunities in local diplomacy
The COVID-19 pandemic has posed obstacles to all aspects of social life and local diplomacy is no exception. Ambassador Tran Thanh Huan (Director General of the Department of Local Diplomacy - Ministry of Foreign Affairs) granted an interview with The World & Viet Nam Report about the transformation in coping with the new development to ensure an efficient completion of the task.
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| Delegates at the Viet Nam Agricultural Digital Transformation International Forum on September 16, 2021. (Photo: Tuan Anh) |
Mr. Director General, how have unprecedented fluctuations in the current period affected local diplomacy?
The COVID-19 pandemic has exerted serious impacts on all aspects of life, causing the change in inherent habits, disruption of production and supply chains. The work of local diplomacy was not an exception, and was also strongly affected. One of the missions of local diplomacy was to “connect”, by launching a series of events connecting our localities and business with foreign friends and partners. In fact, that chain of connections also suffered disruption at the beginning.
When embarking on the year 2021, as a common practice, the Department of Local Diplomacy developed a Master Plan of Action to be executed throughout the year. Unfortunately, the fourth wave of COVID-19 pandemic broke out with complicated developments, especially in the southern provinces/cities. Just a few activities such as the Training Workshop on Local Diplomacy (Binh Dinh, April 15-16, 2021), the Connection for Development Forum (Ha Noi, April 26, 2021), the Seminar on connecting investment and trade promotion between Thai Binh province and the American Chamber of Commerce in Viet Nam (April 28, 2021) were organized as planned. The majority of other activities had to be postponed, canceled or adjusted to adapt to the situation.
Mr. Ambassador, in your view, what were the results produced by the Department of Local Diplomacy’s timely adaptation on all “fronts”?
As the pandemic shows no signs of an early ending, with a view to achieving the dual goal of preventing the pandemic and maintaining operations, adaptation is an indispensable requirement, flexible adjustment is necessary to overcome disruption and restore the connection chain.
In that light, the Master Plan of Action was promptly adjusted in terms of scale, location and organization, it was carefully prepared and successfully implemented. In particular, the Viet Nam Agricultural Digital Transformation International Forum under the theme “promoting the supportive role of the economy in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic and post-pandemic” was joined by relevant ministries and agencies, nearly all provinces/cities directly under the central government, foreign agencies and organizations and leading international experts in the field of agricultural digital transformation (September 16th, 2021).
Other subsequent events took place such as “Connecting Korea - Quang Binh” (October 15, 2021), “Connecting Vietnamese localities with localities of the Russian Federation” (October 27, 2021), “Meet the USA: Partnering for reopening, recovery and rebound in the Southern Economic Region” (November 23, 2021), “EuroCham whitebook launch and Meet Europe 2021: EU – Viet Nam partnership Post COVID-19” (November 25, 2021), webinar connecting Vietnamese localities and businesses with Australian partners in three major fields namely real estate, renewable energy, information technology and telecommunications (December 2 , 2021).
Mr. Director General, what innovations in local diplomacy are put in place to overcome challenges in the new normal, perform its pioneering role in promoting integration for development?
Local diplomacy is being renewed both in content and format as well as in mode of operation.
In terms of content, practicality and efficiency is put on top, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this requirement becomes even more essential. Connectivity is not only showcased by the number of “twinning” partnerships or international cooperation agreements at local level, but it is equally important to be accompanied by a specific implementation plan.
Promoting investment and external economic affairs should always be a priority and work in accordance with the motto “putting people, localities and businesses at the center”, meeting the “genuine” needs of the localities and businesses. At the same time, advices should be given to localities to help them catch up with major global development trends such as green economy, clean energy, emission reduction, digital transformation... Other areas of activity should also follow that direction.
In terms of format, large, medium and small-scale activities are harmoniously combined to properly target each group, region, industry and sector.
With regards to mode of operation, instead of face-to-face events, in response to the pandemic when social distancing is required, it is necessary to quickly switch to a hybrid mode of online and face-to-face delivery when conditions allow.
| Local diplomacy is being renewed both in content and form as well as in mode of operation. In terms of content, practicality and efficiency is put on top, especially in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic, this requirement becomes even more essential. In terms of format, large, medium and small-scale activities are harmoniously combined to properly target each group, region, industry and sector. |
Can you share with us the plans the Department of Local Diplomacy will deploy to perform effectively the tasks assigned by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs?
It is not a plan but actually a key activity in the immediate future. The 20th National Conference on Local Diplomacy will take place on December 13, 2021 in Ha Noi via onsite and online format.
The Conference’s theme will center on “Innovating and enhancing diplomacy and international integration in support of localities”. This will provide an opportunity to review the implementation of local diplomacy since the 19th National Conference (August 8, 2018) and agree on the direction of local diplomacy in the upcoming period.
A new feature will be incorporated which is within the Conference’s framework, a Workshop on “Meeting the Diplomatic Corps, Foreign Business Associations, Connecting Vietnamese Localities and Enterprises” and an “Exhibition to display Vietnamese branded products” will be held.
The 20th National Conference on Local Diplomacy is expected to approve the Action Plan for local diplomacy in the upcoming period, which is a framework document laying a foundation for cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and localities in the next 3 to 5 years.
Can you share with us some memorable stories of the Department of Local Diplomacy during your engagement with localities in the new context?
Perhaps the most impressive and memorable story of this year was when we jointly organized the Viet Nam Agricultural Digital Transformation International Forum and the Viet Nam Agriculture International Exhibition via virtual reality.
It was for the very first time the Department had “made inroads” into the field of agriculture, and the first time virtual reality technology platform had been applied and also the first time the event had been raised to national and international level. But it was true to state that “opportunities lie in threats”.
Thanks to the effective cooperation of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development, the Viet Nam Digital Agriculture Association along with relevant specialized agencies, VnExpress’s expertise on the technology platform and especially, a very “hot” topic of agricultural digital transformation in the context of the raging pandemic and severe impacts of climate change, the event came to a very successful conclusion.
Close to 1,500 delegates attended the Forum and more than 300,000 visited the Exhibition. 61/63 provinces and cities attended and contributed to the Forum. Through our network of 94 representative missions abroad, connections were set up with foreign government agencies, associations and businesses; invited speakers who were leading international experts in the field of agricultural digital transformation attended the Forum via online format.
Thanh you very much!
By Minh Hoa
