Lai Chau: Expanding integration from the Party's foreign policy

Based on the traditional friendship with the localities of Yunnan province (China), the northern provinces of the Lao People's Democratic Republic, Lai Chau has now become a locality with diverse foreign relations with many foreign partners and localities. The province actively participates in bilateral and multilateral diplomatic activities, proactively connects, seeks partners, and promotes relations with embassies of foreign countries, associations, foreign enterprises, non-governmental organizations, and foreign international cooperation agencies in Vietnam. Thanks to that, many important cooperation agreements have been signed, notably 5 cooperation agreements between Lai Chau and Korean localities such as Mungyeong city, Tongyeong, Geumsan district, Boseong... focusing on the fields of high-tech agriculture, tourism, education, labor and employment.

Typically, implementing the cooperation agreement to receive seasonal workers in Korea between Lai Chau province and Mungyeong city government (Gyeongsanbuk province, Korea), many local workers have gone to Korea to work seasonally in the agricultural sector with a salary of 25-40 million VND/month. From here, many opportunities have been opened up for rural workers in the province to escape poverty and become rich.

Thanks to the implementation of the cooperation agreement on receiving seasonal workers in Korea between Lai Chau province and Mungyeong city government (Gyeongsanbuk province, Korea), many workers in the province have gone to work seasonally in Korea.

Mr. Dong Van Toan in Huoi Bao village (Phong Tho commune) confided: This spacious house was built with the money my wife and I earned from working abroad in 2023 in Mungyeong city at a company specializing in growing, harvesting, producing, and processing aloe vera. The salary for one person is about 37 million VND, and after deducting food expenses, the income for two people is over 60 million VND/month. The work is not too hard. After 7 months of working, my wife and I returned home to pay off the bank loan and invest in renting wedding halls and saving up to repair the house. The export program to Korea helps many households like mine to have more income and improve their lives.

According to Mr. Kieu Hai Nam - Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Lai Chau province: Foreign affairs are not only a bridge of friendship, but also a driving force for development. For Lai Chau - a border province, expanding international cooperation helps the province attract resources, access technology and management experience, thereby directly serving economic development, poverty reduction and ensuring social security. From 2020 to now, Lai Chau has welcomed 536 delegations with nearly 3,700 international visitors to work, survey, promote investment, cultural and educational cooperation. From bilateral and multilateral meetings, new cooperation programs have been opened, contributing to bringing the image of a dynamic, friendly and integrated Lai Chau to international friends.

Scene of the Border Management Talks between Lai Chau Province (Vietnam) and Hong Ha District (Yunnan Province, China) in 2025.

In addition to maintaining and expanding friendly relations, investment promotion activities and international trade connections have also been effectively implemented. Lai Chau is the first province in the country to organize a seminar on promoting Lai Chau tea products to the Middle East, North Africa and South Asia markets with over 200 delegates including ambassadors and foreign enterprises attending to seek outlets for the province's strong agricultural products. Typical products of the province are also introduced and displayed at international fairs at home and abroad to seek partners for production and business cooperation and expand export markets.

Not only trade cooperation, international aid mobilization has been effectively implemented. In the past 5 years, the total value of non-refundable aid to the province reached more than 226 billion VND, coming from embassies, bilateral and multilateral funds and foreign non-governmental organizations. These aid sources focus on health, education, clean water, livelihoods and climate change response, contributing to improving the lives of people in remote and isolated areas.

Lai Chau also attaches importance to cultural diplomacy as an effective channel to promote its image, enhance mutual understanding and trust, and promote friendly cooperation between Lai Chau and international friends. From 2020 to now, there have been 5 foreign press delegations coming to make reports in the province, and Lai Chau's image has been introduced on major television channels such as HitRun (USA), KBS (Korea), HBO (Spain)... Cultural and artistic exchange activities with localities of Yunnan province (China) and northern Lao provinces are regularly organized, contributing to strengthening the friendly relations between the two sides.

Leaders of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Lai Chau College presented gifts to Lao students at the exchange program to celebrate the anniversary of the establishment of Vietnam - Laos diplomatic relations.

People's diplomacy - the third pillar in foreign affairs - has been focused on. Through the Union of Friendship Organizations, more than 30 people-to-people exchange activities have been organized, connecting Lai Chau people with the people of China, Laos, Japan and Korea. In particular, border districts have also signed agreements with 6 pairs of border communes and villages with towns and villages of Yunnan province (China), contributing to maintaining friendly neighborly relations between people on both sides of the border.

Comrade Le Huu Hong - Chairman of Phong Tho Commune People's Committee shared: "In recent times, the commune has mobilized and promoted the combined strength of the political system and armed forces in carrying out the task of building and protecting the border. Political security, social order and safety have been ensured, national defense and security in the border area have been maintained. The lives of ethnic people have improved; people's trust in the Party and the State has been strengthened. The solidarity relationship between the army and the people has become increasingly close; this has contributed to building a developed border, creating potential to consolidate and build a strong national border defense".

Looking back over the past 5 years, foreign affairs have helped Lai Chau expand its market, attract investment and promote local brands. However, according to the assessment of the Provincial People's Committee, there are still some limitations such as: difficult transportation, limited human resources with foreign language skills, small number of FDI projects and aid value not commensurate with its potential. In the coming time, Lai Chau will continue to steadfastly and persistently implement the Party's foreign policy, expand and improve the effectiveness of foreign affairs activities, ensure the Party's unified leadership and the State's centralized management of foreign affairs. Focus on synchronous, effective and comprehensive implementation with three pillars: Party foreign affairs, State diplomacy and people's diplomacy. Proactively connect, seek partners and effectively implement the contents of signed agreements with foreign partners.

From a remote border area, Lai Chau today is gradually asserting its position in the process of international integration. With the Party's correct foreign policy, the determination of the entire political system and the consensus of the people, Lai Chau's foreign affairs not only bring economic benefits, but also ignite the spirit of solidarity and friendship, contributing to maintaining the border, building the land where "the Fatherland's fence" becomes increasingly rich, civilized and deeply integrated.

Source: https://baolaichau.vn/xa-hoi/lai-chau-mo-rong-hoi-nhap-tu-duong-loi-doi-ngoai-cua-dang-568181