Ho Chi Minh City - 50 years of implementing Vietnam's foreign policy

The workshop aimed to assess the role of foreign affairs in the city's development since the reform process up to now; discuss achievements, lessons and orientations for the development of economic, cultural diplomacy and international cooperation in the new period; and propose solutions to further promote the pioneering and effective role of foreign affairs in the process of integration and sustainable development of the city.

Recognizing and praising the important and persistent contributions of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs over the past time, Comrade Vo Van Hoan, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, said that the department has always been proactive, flexible and creative in organizing and implementing foreign affairs work. The department has played a good role as a bridge between the city and international partners, diplomatic missions, international organizations and overseas Vietnamese; ensuring close coordination between the city government and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He affirmed: "The quiet but effective efforts of the Department of Foreign Affairs have contributed to enhancing the position and image of Ho Chi Minh City in the international arena."

Comrade Vo Van Hoan emphasized that the city will continue to closely coordinate with central ministries and branches, especially the Ministry of Foreign Affairs , to contribute to effectively implementing a comprehensive and modern foreign policy, for the goal of sustainable development and serving the people.

The workshop was divided into three thematic sessions, which were elaborately designed and had profound content. The first session looked back at the 50-year journey with the city's outstanding contributions to the country's foreign affairs. The second session focused on discussing foreign affairs strategies in the new era (2025-2045), in the context of major trends such as digital transformation, green development and non-traditional security. In particular, the third session was a space for open academic exchange, with sharp critical comments from experts and former leaders, aiming to propose specific and practical solutions for the city to effectively implement local foreign affairs in the coming period.

At the workshop, comrade Duong Dinh Ba, former Deputy Head of the City Party Committee's External Relations Committee, former Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations, shared that over the past 50 years, under the leadership and direction of the City Party Committee and the City People's Committee, with the assistance and coordination of the Department of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies, the city's people's foreign affairs activities have made worthy contributions to the cause of protecting, building and developing the socio-economy of the city named after beloved Uncle Ho.

“Following the example of President Ho Chi Minh - the Teacher of Vietnamese Diplomacy - we firmly believe that the harmonious and close coordination between Party Foreign Affairs, State Diplomacy and People's Diplomacy will continue to strongly promote the role of Vietnamese diplomacy in the international community, contributing worthily to the cause of turning our country into a developed country with a high per capita income in the region by 2045,” said comrade Duong Dinh Ba.

Sharing the same viewpoint, Dr. Truong Minh Huy Vu, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Institute for Development Studies, analyzed that the history of struggle and continuous creative labor of our country has gone through two eras from 1945 with the victory of the August Revolution to the era of innovation and development in 1986 (originating from the 6th National Congress of Delegates). Up to now, our country has entered the third era: the era of rising up, starting from the 14th National Congress of the Party.

In that context, building a modern and effective national governance system becomes an inevitable requirement to meet the demands of development. This not only brings opportunities to promote growth but also poses great challenges for each locality in improving governance capacity and taking advantage of opportunities.

In his concluding remarks, Acting Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs Pham Dut Diem said that the in-depth presentations and multi-dimensional discussions showed that foreign affairs work has always been an organic part, making practical and indispensable contributions to the cause of protecting, building and developing Ho Chi Minh City over the past half century - from the period of innovation, opening up and integration to the period of proactively reaching out to the world.

The workshop also opened up many suggestions for the next stage of development: improving the quality of economic, cultural and people-to-people diplomacy, promoting local integration and promoting the city's pioneering role in modern local diplomacy.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/thanh-pho-ho-chi-minh-50-nam-trien-khai-duong-loi-doi-ngoai-viet-nam-post871645.html