East Asian localities promote cooperation in green, sustainable tourism and smart cities

Developing green, sustainable tourism and smart cities are important pillars to realize the goal of green, sustainable and inclusive development.

Overview of the Conference. (Source: VNA)

On the morning of June 6, the opening ceremony of the 14th East Asia Regional and Local Government Conference took place in Hue city.

The conference was attended by Chairman of Hue City People's Committee Nguyen Van Phuong, leaders of Ho Chi Minh City, Phu Tho, Phu Yen, and 30 delegations representing local authorities of China, Japan, Korea, Malaysia and Vietnam. Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy Le Thi Hong Van represented the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to attend and deliver the opening speech at the conference.

Speaking at the opening of the Conference, Chairman of Hue City People's Committee Nguyen Van Phuong affirmed that the Conference is an important forum for local governments in East Asia for leaders and experts to discuss common issues that the community is concerned about and facing, and exchange and propose creative solutions towards sustainable development and prosperity of the region.

Mr. Nguyen Van Phuong said that this conference will focus on two main topics, which are also very important areas for the development orientation of Hue city now and in the future, including "Developing green and sustainable tourism " to share and exchange experiences and solutions on green and sustainable tourism models and "Developing smart cities" to share experiences and introduce solutions on management and technology suitable for smart cities.

Mr. Yamashita Makoto, Governor of Nara Prefecture, Japan, Head of the Secretariat of the East Asia Regional and Local Government Conference expressed his deep gratitude to the Hue City government for hosting the important Conference, marking 15 years since the first Conference was held in Nara Prefecture, Japan.

The East Asia Regional and Local Government Conference originated from a proposal by 19 local governments from three countries, including Nara Prefecture, in 2010, said Yamashita Makoto, head of the conference's secretariat.

Over the past 15 years, the Conference has grown and expanded with the participation of nearly 80 local governments from 7 countries, including new members such as Liaoning province and Zhengzhou city in Henan province, China.

Affirming that Hue, an attractive tourist destination rich in historical value, with outstanding natural beauty and landscape, attracting visitors from all over the world, is an ideal place to discuss the two important topics of this Conference, the Governor of Nara Prefecture expressed his belief that the Conference will be a great success, contributing to improving the management capacity of local governments of the countries, as well as further promoting exchanges and cooperation across national boundaries, creating a foundation for mutually beneficial relationships in the medium and long term.

Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy Le Thi Hong Van spoke at the Conference.

Speaking at the Conference, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy Le Thi Hong Van said that sustainable, inclusive development and green growth in the digital age have become more urgent than ever for all countries and communities, especially when the world is in a period of unprecedented profound and comprehensive transformation in all fields.

Green, sustainable tourism development and smart urban development are important pillars to realize the goal of green, sustainable and inclusive development. These two areas are closely linked and open up many opportunities for substantive cooperation between localities and international partners.

In that spirit, Ms. Le Thi Hong Van hopes that the 14th Conference will be an important forum for local authorities to share openly, frankly and practically, proposing practical approaches, solutions and cooperation frameworks, emphasizing:

(i) Identify a comprehensive approach to unify awareness and action on the role of localities in promoting green, sustainable, inclusive development, especially green, sustainable tourism and smart cities.

(ii) Strengthen the exchange of good experiences and good examples, and make appropriate policy recommendations to promote green tourism and develop smart cities.

(iii) Promote multi-stakeholder partnerships and international cooperation in local cooperation on sustainable tourism and smart cities, establish more effective networks and information sharing among policy makers, research institutes, scholars, localities and businesses.

(iv) Continue to promote a long-term vision for the East Asia Regional and Local Government Conference mechanism, contributing to regional and global multilateral mechanisms to enhance the role of localities in regional and global cooperation, especially in urgent issues such as climate change, sustainable development, green transformation, digital transformation, through which local actions will have global spillover effects.

Ms. Le Thi Hong Van shared that Vietnam's success over the past 40 years is closely linked to the key phrase: Innovation, creativity and integration. Vietnam has achieved important achievements of historical significance and with new thinking, new vision, new approach, striving to rise up, develop rapidly and sustainably in the new era. Vietnam is promoting the implementation of "three strategic breakthroughs" in institutions, infrastructure and human resources and deploying the "four pillars" of breakthroughs in science and technology development, innovation and national digital transformation, international integration, innovation in law-making and enforcement and development of the private economic sector, aiming for two 100-year goals and 8% growth this year.

Heads of delegations attending the Conference.

In that common effort, local-level cooperation plays an increasingly important role, becoming an inseparable part of the process of deep and comprehensive international integration and an important driving force for promoting sustainable development.

Vietnamese local governments are both the subjects implementing national foreign policy and active, dynamic and creative subjects in the international integration process.

Identifying local foreign affairs as one of the important components of the foreign affairs front, Ms. Le Thi Hong Van affirmed that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs always upholds the spirit of service, is always ready to accompany and support localities and create the most favorable conditions to promote new initiatives and cooperation models, suitable to the characteristics of each locality and development requirements in the new era.

The East Asia Regional and Local Government Conference is an annual multilateral forum for local governments in the East Asia region.

The conference is a cooperation mechanism initiated by Nara Prefecture (Japan) in 2010, on the occasion of the 1,300th anniversary of the Heijo-kyo Nara Capital, and has so far attracted the participation of nearly 80 localities from 7 countries: Japan, China, Korea, Vietnam, Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, in which Nara Prefecture (Japan) plays the role of Permanent Secretariat.

The 14th conference took place in Hue city from June 5-7, 2025 with many activities such as the opening and closing sessions, 2 thematic conferences on "Green and sustainable tourism development" and "Smart cities", and a seminar on promoting and advertising the locality. Delegates also attended the opening ceremony of Hue Ao Dai Week 2025 and explored Hue's cultural heritages.

Source: https://baoquocte.vn/cac-dia-phuong-khu-vuc-dong-a-thuc-day-hop-tac-du-lich-xanh-ben-vung-va-do-thi-thong-minh-316811.html