Local diplomacy - a 'branch' of Vietnamese diplomacy

At the 21st National Conference on Foreign Affairs held on December 18 in Hanoi, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son affirmed that local foreign affairs "is one of the important components of foreign affairs."

Former President Truong Tan Sang and former South Korean President Lee Myung Bak at an event in Thai Binh on December 1, 2023 - Photo: T. Kien

In the three years since the 20th National Conference on Foreign Affairs, Vietnamese localities have signed 422 cooperation agreements with international partners. The number of provincial and city leaders traveling abroad has increased by 60% compared to before, despite the COVID-19 pandemic, reflecting the proactive approach of localities in stimulating interest and attracting foreign investment.

Behind the scenes: Inviting Mr. Lee Myung Bak

Speaking to Tuoi Tre newspaper , Mr. Nguyen Nhu Hieu, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs (Ministry of Foreign Affairs), said that over the past year, the Department of Foreign Affairs has chaired and coordinated with localities to organize 45 events connecting localities and businesses both domestically and internationally, such as Meet Japan, Meet Korea, etc. These events not only aim to help localities develop but also serve as valuable lessons for other localities in international networking. Citing a recent event in Thai Binh province in early December attended by former South Korean President Lee Myung Bak, Mr. Hieu said that this event started from the initiative of the local authorities. During a trip to South Korea in early 2023, the provincial leaders extended an invitation to Mr. Lee Myung Bak to visit Thai Binh. "After that, we proceeded through diplomatic channels, coordinating the program development. The recent event in Thai Binh can be said to have been more successful than expected, comprehensively promoting the locality. Not only did a former head of state visit, but following him, major Korean businesses also visited Thai Binh. The province also took advantage of the opportunity to organize cultural festivals, exhibitions, and booths. Mr. Lee Myung Bak also visited and spoke at Thai Binh Medical University, Thai Binh Children's Hospital, medical facilities, and industrial zones...", Mr. Hieu cited as an example. According to him, the advice and subsequent connections from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, most importantly the connections with businesses, will add value to the locality's proactive approach.

Use the UNESCO designation as a brand.

Speaking to Tuoi Tre newspaper on the sidelines of the foreign affairs conference, Ambassador Le Thi Hong Van - head of the Permanent Mission of Vietnam to UNESCO - said that Vietnam currently has 65 UNESCO titles, ranging from world cultural and natural heritage sites, intangible cultural heritage sites, global geoparks, biosphere reserves, creative cities, learning cities, etc. Currently, even within a single locality, there can be many heritage sites.

According to Ms. Van, linking UNESCO titles is a key factor in attracting investment and building local brands. She mentioned several localities that are doing well, such as Hue – a city with one destination and seven heritage sites – and Hanoi – a city for peace, a creative city, and home to the Thang Long Imperial Citadel, a World Heritage site. Furthermore, one current trend is leveraging the advantages of digital technology to promote and highlight the value of these titles. Ms. Van discussed the use of social media platforms like Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, and even KOLs (Key Opinion Leaders). "When UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay visited Vietnam, she posted seven tweets about Vietnam and received hundreds, even thousands, of likes and retweets. I think that's one of the fastest ways to convey and introduce Vietnam," Ms. Van explained. Speaking to the press, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Dung expressed his wish for localities to give more importance to overseas Vietnamese affairs, as they represent a very large and rich resource. "I suggest that during overseas trips, local leaders should pay attention to overseas Vietnamese, meet with them, and connect with them. Every locality has overseas Vietnamese who left their hometown. And the first thing these people think of when they think of Vietnam is their birthplace," Mr. Dung shared. According to Mr. Dung, if localities can connect with and utilize the overseas Vietnamese, it will be very effective. "Localities could appoint their representatives abroad, and if any overseas Vietnamese are suitable, they could propose them to represent their region or locality," Mr. Dung suggested. Meanwhile, according to Mr. Nguyen Nhu Hieu, the biggest concern for the diplomatic sector in general and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in particular is how to enhance the effectiveness of local connections with the international community and promote local products. Mr. Hieu emphasized that if localities clearly identify key international partners, the connection process will be smoother. These international partners include not only local-level collaborations between Vietnam and other countries, but also business associations, organizations, and large foreign corporations, especially multinational corporations.

700 billion USD

According to Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son, economic diplomacy has mobilized many external resources, making important contributions to effectively controlling the COVID-19 pandemic, promoting economic growth, with exports and imports reaching nearly 700 billion USD in 2023, over 30 items having export turnover exceeding 1 billion USD, and attracting FDI increasing by 14.8% amidst many difficulties in the global economy.

Tuoitre.vn

Source link