Delegates at the Online meeting venue in Son La province

The conference was held both in-person at the Government Headquarters and online, linking the Government Headquarters with Vietnam's foreign missions and the People's Committees of provinces and cities under central authority. Attending the conference from the Sơn La Provincial venue were Mr. Nguyễn Thành Công, Vice Chairman of the Sơn La Provincial People's Committee, along with leaders from several provincial departments and agencies.

Since the beginning of the year, there have been 36 high-level diplomatic activities, with a continued focus on economic content. These efforts have yielded tangible and substantial results, including numerous agreements and cooperation pacts with various partners. Diplomatic relations have been expanded, elevated, and upgraded. Emphasis has been placed on opening export markets, negotiating Free Trade Agreements (FTAs), and enhancing investment in new sectors such as green economy, energy transition, high-tech agriculture, tourism, and labor. These priorities have been integrated and concretized into specific commitments and projects across all high-level diplomatic engagements with major partners in Northeast Asia, Europe, North America, as well as potential partners in the Middle East, Africa, and Latin America."

Government leaders, along with officials from ministries and localities, are actively meeting with foreign corporations to mobilize high-quality investment, promote green economic development, and address obstacles to ensure a favorable business environment. At the local level, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has organized numerous promotional delegations both domestically and internationally, and has supported provinces and cities in signing over 20 Memoranda of Understanding with international partners. Additionally, the Ministry has assisted in successfully advocating for UNESCO recognition of three new natural and cultural heritage sites, bringing the total number of UNESCO-listed sites to 68 and contributing to the enhancement of tourism resources.

Online Meeting Venues

For domestic businesses, the focus has been on supporting Vietnamese enterprises in expanding abroad, organizing international investment promotion events, and addressing numerous anti-dumping cases targeting Vietnamese agricultural products in key markets such as frozen warm-water shrimp, honey, wooden products, and plywood. Efforts are ongoing to persuade EU member states to lift the 'yellow card' on illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing, and to lobby for U.S. recognition of Vietnam as a market economy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs, in collaboration with other ministries and sectors, is vigorously implementing the Halal project, issuing an action plan, working with the Ministry of Science and Technology to establish a National Halal Certification Center, hosting a Brunei business delegation on Halal, and negotiating a cooperation agreement on Halal with Saudi Arabia.

At the conference, delegates focused on discussing and evaluating the results of recent economic diplomacy efforts. They conducted a thorough analysis of existing issues and limitations, including identifying underlying causes. The discussion aimed to determine practical and feasible tasks and solutions, both short-term and long-term, to enhance and achieve breakthroughs in key areas of economic diplomacy moving forward. Recommendations were made to the Government and the Prime Minister on various measures to overcome obstacles and further boost the effectiveness of economic diplomacy in the future.

Speaking at the conference, Prime Minister Phạm Minh Chính urged that, moving forward, economic diplomacy should decisively implement Directive 15-CT/TW from the Central Committee, Resolution 21/NQ-CP from the Government, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' action plan on economic diplomacy. The aim is to contribute maximally to maintaining a favorable and peaceful external environment for socio-economic development. He emphasized the need to leverage newly established mechanisms to enhance coordination with ministries, sectors, localities, and foreign missions in executing economic diplomacy. Prime Minister Chính also called for a comprehensive, effective, and substantive approach to high-level diplomatic activities, integrating economic and technological components into the agenda as a launchpad for economic diplomacy. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs is expected to work closely with ministries, sectors, and localities to prepare for key high-level activities until the end of the year and proactively propose key areas of cooperation, especially in emerging sectors."

Thuy Nhu

Translated byHuyen Thao Thi Vu