On June 10, 2026, in Ho Chi Minh City, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs presided over the “2026 Conference of Leaders of Local Foreign Affairs Agencies”. This served as a vital forum to summarize foreign affairs activities after nearly one year of implementing the two-level local government model and to shape the international integration roadmap for localities in the spirit of the 14th National Party Congress.
Foreign Affairs Milestones Serving Socio-Economic Development
Reports at the conference indicated that throughout 2025 and the first five months of 2026, local foreign affairs work underwent substantive transformations. Economic diplomacy continued to assert its central role, shifting strongly from "individual promotion" to "development partnership," focusing on emerging sectors such as green transition, digital transformation, and artificial intelligence.
Key results from the recent period include:
- International Connectivity: The Ministry of Foreign Affairs coordinated support for localities to organize 05 large-scale conferences and facilitated over 1,000 connections between domestic enterprises and international partners. Landmark activities such as the "Meet Korea" event in Hung Yen and "Meet Japan" in Can Tho have become critical platforms for attracting capital and technology.
- Soft Power and UNESCO: Vietnam currently leads Southeast Asia with 78 UNESCO titles. The foreign affairs mindset has shifted from merely "attaining titles" to "promoting the value of those titles," transforming heritage into resources for tourism and cultural industries.
- Reform and Management: State management of foreign affairs has been strengthened by perfecting regulations, particularly Regulation 392 and the Law on International Agreements.
Challenges and the Requirement for Innovative Thinking
Despite numerous achievements, the conference frankly acknowledged certain limitations, such as the uneven capacity for international integration among localities and the low rate of converting foreign relations into specific investment projects.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van emphasized that as the two-level government model opens new development spaces, localities must think in terms of "international connection spaces" rather than managing solely by traditional administrative boundaries. Local foreign affairs officers must be more than just experts in protocol; they must become “international development advisors” capable of analyzing global trends and negotiating to mobilize resources.
Strategic Orientations for the 2026-2027 Period
The conference reached a consensus on major orientations in preparation for the upcoming 22nd National Conference on Foreign Affairs:
- Institutionalizing the 14th Congress Foreign Policy: Synchronously implementing strategic Resolutions on international integration, science, technology, and innovation.
- Shifting from "Participation" to "Proactive Creation": Foreign affairs must be involved from the earliest stages of local planning and strategy to seek new growth drivers, striving for double-digit growth targets.
- Building Local Branding: Promoting cultural diplomacy and building the image of localities on the international stage, linked with creative products and indigenous heritage.
This year's conference, attended by leaders of foreign affairs agencies from various provinces and cities including Hai Phong, Quang Ninh, and Ho Chi Minh City, reaffirmed the spirit: Central and local levels thinking and acting together to elevate Vietnamese diplomacy to new heights, commensurate with the nation's development aspirations.