Foreign affairs, expanding cooperation

- In recent years, the province has focused on three pillars of foreign affairs: Party foreign affairs, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy. In particular, the friendly and cooperative relations with the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China, have continued to be strengthened and deepened, thereby contributing to fostering solidarity and friendship, expanding cooperation and promoting socio-economic development in the area.

Leaders of the Provincial Investment, Trade and Tourism Promotion Center and representatives of the RCEP Public Service Center of Nanning, China signed a memorandum of cooperation.

In the period of promoting international integration, foreign affairs are increasingly being paid attention and focused by the province. The province has proactively implemented comprehensive foreign affairs on all three pillars, while expanding friendly cooperation relations with many traditional and strategic partners; promoting and improving the quality of economic and cultural diplomacy in association with the socio-economic development goals of the province.

Expand connectivity

The staff and civil servants working in foreign affairs are increasingly professional, flexible and sensitive in their advisory work. The number of international delegations visiting and working in the province is increasing, gradually affirming the potential and advantages of the province's important geo-economic and geo- political position. Foreign affairs have played a bridging role, promoting and fostering international cooperation, contributing to introducing and promoting the land, people and cultural identity of Lang Son to international friends.

Along with that, the departments, branches and sectors of the province have adjusted and flexibly organized foreign affairs activities; maintained exchanges and promoted cooperation contents, especially cooperation with the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. Thereby, contributing to removing difficulties, speeding up customs clearance of goods, and promoting economic development at border gates.

According to statistics from the Department of Foreign Affairs, from 2020 to present, the department has advised the Provincial People's Committee on procedures for sending 173 delegations with 1,549 officials, civil servants and public employees to participate in talks, work and training abroad; advised on procedures to allow the reception and work of 381 delegations with 2,263 foreigners to visit, attend programs and events of the province and work, research, survey, exchange, and learn about investment cooperation opportunities in the province; At the same time, the department advised the province on procedures for signing 62 agreements and memorandums of understanding on cooperation with foreign partners.

Mr. Hoang Khanh Duy, Deputy Head of the Management Board of Dong Dang - Lang Son Border Gate Economic Zone, said: In order to remove difficulties and create maximum convenience for customs clearance activities at the province's border gates, in recent times, the unit has deployed a variety of foreign affairs activities suitable to the practical conditions of the locality; actively held meetings and sent diplomatic notes to Chinese authorities to coordinate, seek and agree on solutions to improve customs clearance capacity. Since the beginning of 2025, the unit has sent 39 working letters, organized 12 meetings; at the same time, welcomed 6 delegations and organized 4 delegations to exchange and work directly with Chinese agencies. Thanks to that, customs clearance activities through the border gates have been stable, achieving high customs clearance efficiency.

Along with focusing on developing friendly relations and comprehensive cooperation with Guangxi (China), the province also promotes the establishment and development of local-level relations with diplomatic missions, international organizations, and strategic partners in the ASEAN region, the United States, Australia, France, Italy, Japan, India, South Korea, etc. to expand the market, attract investment, and integrate internationally in many fields.

Promote meetings, exchanges and cooperation

Promoting the effectiveness of the Spring Meeting Program between Provincial Party Secretaries - Regional Party Secretaries (held 9 times since 2016) and the mechanism of the Joint Working Committee Conference of 4 provinces: Lang Son, Quang Ninh, Cao Bang, Ha Giang (now Tuyen Quang) of Vietnam with the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China (16 conferences since 2008), the two sides have signed many cooperation agreements. From there, facilitating and promoting cooperation in key areas such as: connecting transport infrastructure in the Trans-Asian Economic Corridor; opening, upgrading, and digitalizing the management and operation of the border gate system; improving the capacity of customs clearance of import and export goods; developing logistics, trade, and tourism infrastructure...

Along with that is maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, protecting the integrity of national border sovereignty. Thereby, promoting the building of a friendly and comprehensive cooperative relationship and development of the two provinces and regions, creating a foundation for stable economic and social development in the border area, becoming an exemplary model of cooperation in the overall relationship between Vietnam and China.

Not only strengthening meetings and cooperation with Guangxi, China, according to statistics from the Department of Foreign Affairs, from 2020 to present, the department has advised the Provincial People's Committee to complete procedures for sending 173 delegations with 1,549 officials, civil servants and public employees to participate in talks, work and training abroad; advised on procedures to allow the reception and work of 381 delegations with 2,263 foreigners to visit, attend programs and events of the province and work, research, survey, exchange, and learn about investment cooperation opportunities in the province; at the same time, the department advised the province on procedures for signing 62 agreements and memorandums of understanding on cooperation with foreign partners.

The signing and implementation of international cooperation agreements at all levels must ensure compliance with legal procedures and regulations and have high enforcement effectiveness. Among them, there are many agreements of strategic significance such as the "Framework Agreement between the Provincial People's Committee and the People's Government of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China on promoting the pilot construction of smart border gates" which is a strategic step forward, demonstrating innovation and modernization in border management and economic development of border gates...

The province connects through the Vietnam - France decentralized cooperation mechanism, signs a tourism cooperation agreement with partner CNAM (France), creating an important premise in building and submitting to UNESCO for recognition of Lang Son Geopark as a Global Geopark... In addition, the province also actively mobilizes and receives foreign non-governmental aid (NGO). From 2020 to present, the province has received 22 NGO aid projects, humanitarian aid with a total value of 1.6 million USD; received 37 humanitarian aid, non-project aid from international organizations, NGO organizations with a total aid value of more than 2.08 million USD. NGO projects mainly focus on supporting areas with difficult economic conditions and mountainous areas in the fields of education, health, and humanitarian charity activities.

Ms. Hoang Ly Liem, representative of the Sam Sung Lang Son Hope School project (Dong Kinh ward) said: The project was implemented after the signing ceremony of the memorandum of understanding between Samsung Vietnam, the Department of Foreign Affairs of Lang Son province and the Korea Food for the Hungry International (KFHI) organization in Korea. In 2022, the school will be officially completed and put into use. The cost of renovation, construction of facilities, purchase of equipment and project management costs is more than 8 billion VND sponsored by Samsung Vietnam. This is currently a completely free after-school extracurricular learning place for about 300 students in difficult circumstances. This has contributed to the development of local education.

Ms. Trinh Tuyet Mai, Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs, said: The province's foreign affairs activities, contacts, exchanges, and meetings in the past have contributed to increasing understanding, strengthening political trust, increasing solidarity, friendship and international cooperation. In the coming time, the department will continue to advise the Provincial People's Committee to innovate and flexibly organize foreign affairs activities in accordance with the actual situation; at the same time, continue to advise the province and closely coordinate with other sectors to promote the expansion and consolidation of comprehensive friendship and cooperation with Guangxi, China in many fields. At the same time, the department will proactively connect, promote the signing and implementation of important international cooperation agreements, affirming its pioneering role, implementing strategic solutions in foreign affairs, contributing to the implementation of sustainable socio-economic development goals, ensuring national defense, security and deep international integration in the province.

With the available potentials and advantages, along with the continuous efforts of functional departments, branches, authorities at all levels and people, we believe that the cooperative relationship between Lang Son province and foreign partners will be increasingly expanded, substantial and effective. Thereby contributing to creating momentum and promoting the province's socio-economic growth in the coming period.

Source: https://baolangson.vn/tang-doi-ngoai-mo-rong-hop-tac-5056657.html