On January 13, 2022 morning, Hai Phong Department of Foreign Affairs hosted a conference to review foreign affairs in 2021 and task orientation in 2022. The conference was significant to evaluate the results achieved in foreign affairs in the context of the difficulties and challenges of 2021, and to identify task orientation in 2022.
On the morning of January 13, 2022, Hai Phong Department of Foreign Affairs hosted the Conference on foreign affairs summary in 2021 and tasks orientation in 2022. Attending the conference were representatives of Foreign Affairs Ministry, the City People’s Committee, departments, agencies, and Foreign Affairs Department’s leaders, officials, and public servants working in the city’s foreign affairs. On the side of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, there was Ms. Nguyen Minh Hang, Assistant to the Minister, Director of General Economic Department, participated in conference. On the city’s leader, Mr. Hoang Minh Cuong, Member of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee, attended and delivered a keynote speech at the conference. That conference was important for the city to review results gained in foreign affairs during the fully difficult and challenging year of 2021, identifying orientation and tasks in year of 2022.
The conference was organized in order and guaranteed quality, solemnity, and safety from the pandemic. After Summary Report on Foreign Affairs of 2021 and tasks orientation in 2022 presented by Mrs. Nguyen Thi Bich Dung, Deputy Secretary of the Department Party, Standing Vice Director of Foreign Affairs Department, delegates gave speeches on topics “Foreign Affairs Implementation in the city’s economic development targets deployment”, Vietnamese Overseas Work’s contribution to general outputs of Hai Phong City’s foreign affairs”, “Consular work, citizens protection in 2021 during the context of the epidemic COVID-19” to get deepened foreign affairs’ tasks orientation in specific terms in 2022 and ongoing years. Representative of Foreign Affairs Ministry, the city authority’s representative, and Foreign Affairs Department’s representatives gave remarks at the conference to clarify the achievements and tasks orientation, and to suggest directions of foreign affairs in 2022 and ongoing years.
Photo: Mr. Hoang Minh Cuong, Member of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee, attended and delivered a keynote speech at the conference. Source: Hai Phong Department of Foreign Affairs.
Reviewing the year of 2021, situation in the country and the world had incurred complicatedly, quickly, and unpredictably, particularly had been suffering from severe impacts of pandemic COVID-19; the world’s economy has been slowly recovering and unstable; collapse has occurred in numerous manufacturing and supply chains, increase has taken place in inflation and materials’ price; finance and currency markets have fluctuated. The city has also struggled to cope with difficulties and big challenges caused by COVID-19’s fourth wave and Delta variant and latest Omicron, which has impacted human health, lives, and the city’s eco-social corners.
In that context, the city’s foreign affairs work has made great contributions with many important marks in the city’s eco-social development targets implementation, in order to achieve dual targets, completing set goals at the highest level of capacity, and gaining important results comprehensively.
Panorama of the conference
In 2021, although economic growth (GRDP) has not yet reached the set plan, it gained a proportion of 12.38%, which was the highest rate in the country. By the end of December 31st 2021, Hai Phong City’s domestic revenue reached 36,579 billion VND, reaching 139.1% estimate assigned by the Central Government; 104.5% estimate assigned by the City People’s Council, 111.7% compared with 2020. The City has invested in construction for modern urban embellishment. Got completed and submitted the Prime Minister for the City’s master plan by 2040 and vision to 2050 adjustment approval; started10/31 projects, inaugurated 11/23 projects and works in the list of projects and works tentatively inaugurated in 2021. Hai Phong City’s port system has been upgraded and invested in new construction in a synchronous and modern direction, in line with development trend of regional and international maritime transportation; after-port logistics services have been invested, expanded, and upgraded synchronously so that Hai Phong port system is capable of receiving the highest volume of container cargo ever.
The city has achieved a coverage rate of over 90% of the population aged 18 and over receiving 2 doses of vaccination; has strictly controlled severe cases and has reduced the maximum mortality rate caused by COVID-19. Socio-cultural infrastructure projects have been boosted; social welfare has been strengthened, citizens’ health, life and safety have been protected. That showed the city’s drastic and on-time direction and administration and attempts of departments, levels, citizens and enterprises in continuously effective implementation of the dual target “the epidemic control and economic development”, and gradually moving into status “safe and flexible adaptation and the COVID-19 effective control”.
Besides, foreign affairs have been deployed synchronously, comprehensively, and effectively across pillars, remaining and enhancing efficiently and effectively regular cooperation with foreign organizations, partners, and local partnership, participating in “vaccine diplomacy”, facilitating foreign expertise and investors, maintaining and getting recovered manufacturing and businesses. Meanwhile, the city has been strengthening and effectively deploying cultural diplomatic activities, foreign affairs information, consular and citizens protection work, being active in supporting and facilitating Vietnamese overseas in their settlement, development, and continuous contribution to the city and country.
In 2021, although global economic growth has been at bottom and national economy has been at a low rate of about 2.58%, the city has got foreign economic targets for strong growth compared with 2020. Most outstandingly, Hai Phong made record in leading the country in foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction with a total registered capital of over $5,26 billion, nearly 3.5 times higher than in the year of 2020, accounting for 16,9% of total registered investment capital in Vietnam, that brought total capital of valid FDI projects to cross $ 24.5 billion. Notably, LG Display’s project in electronic terms raised a total foreign capital of $4.65 billion. Export turnover in 2021 reached over $26.5billion, growing 23.99% in comparison to the same period of 2020; import turnover gained $25.7 billion, rising 25.84% in comparison to the same period of 2020. Through-port goods crossed 151 million tons, increasing 8.05%. Regarding ODA source, the city has deployed in 2021 a total capital of over 11,000 billion dong, in which over 5,000 billion VND was from the World Bank, Japan International Cooperation Agency, Korean Government, etc. in many key urban, transport and technical infrastructure projects.
Foreign political work has been boosted on ground of quality, creativity with “online diplomacy” measures, and spirit of not letting any “collapse” in diplomatic relations, bilateral and multilateral cooperation during such difficult times of the pandemic COVID-19. Cultural diplomatic work has performed with bright spots, notably that Hai Phong City finished dossier submission and worked with UNESCO’s (independent) monitoring team on nominating Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago becoming the World’s Natural Heritage with 04 criteria including aesthetics, terrains, ecosystem and fauna and flora diversity that has been expected to open new chapters in (the city’s) international tourism development. Vietnamese overseas work has been boosted, in spite of global economic impact due to the pandemic, foreign currencies remittance value has still gained 4,700 billion dong that grew 18.03% and made a significant contribution to the city’s economic development and people’s life quality; Vietnamese overseas (Hai Phong’s residents) and their relatives survey project was completed successfully. Foreign non-governmental value has remained a growth of approximate 123 billion VND; public foreign affairs work has maintained effectively. Management and propaganda on on-sea and islands territories, consular affairs, citizen protection, and foreign activities unified management have been organized strictly and effectively.
Besides gaining achievements, the city’s foreign affairs work has limits that need to continue being reformed. Such limits have been such as incomplete awareness of position and role of foreign sector was sometimes incomplete; breakthrough foreign affairs projects have been absent; all levels and branches’ coordination in external tasks implementation were sometimes were not smoothly and closely; foreign affairs officials were unequal in quality and quantity, finance for duties implementation did not yet meet requirements of development, etc.
Gave speech at the meeting, Ms. Pham Minh Hang, Minister Assistant, Head of General Economic Affairs Department, mentioned that, Hai Phong’s foreign affairs work in 2021 gained remarkable achievements, significantly contributing to Hai Phong City’s and the country’s development in the context of intertwined difficulties and challenges. Ms. Pham Minh Hang also informed that, Ministry of Foreign Affairs considered and gave rewards to groups and individuals in Hai Phong’s foreign affairs work on occasion of The 20th National Foreign Affairs Conference organized in December 2021 that showed care and subjective recognition on the city foreign affairs’ active accompany and contribution to the country’s foreign affairs in recent years. Ms. Pham Minh Hang also underlined that the city needed to do more attempts for direct participation in giving measures to local development problems, going with related departments, units and localities in implementing synchronously and effectively the three pillars in each foreign affairs duties. Meanwhile, it needed to continue opening and innovating ways of thinking to implement diplomatic tasks, such as climate diplomacy, green growth diplomacy, energy diplomacy, digital transformation diplomacy, human resources development diplomacy, etc.
Photo: Ms. Pham Minh Hang, the Assistant to the Minister, Head of Economic General Affairs Department, representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, awarded the Merit Certificate of Foreign Affairs Minister to Hai Phong Foreign Affairs Department’s individuals who gained excellent achievements. Source: Hai Phong Foreign Affairs Department.
Stepped into the year of 2022, which plays significant role in implementing Resolution of 13th Party Congress, the City’s 16th Party Congress, and socio-economic development plan in 2021-2025; in the endured and complicated context fighting against “invisible enemy - COVID-19", international complication and instability, in order to meet international integration’s requirements and post-epidemic recovery; Mr. Hoang Minh Cuong, member of the City Party Committee, Vice Chairman of the City People’s Committee, gave direction to (the city’s) foreign affairs for bigger and more worthy contributions to Hai Phong City’s construction work in 2022 and ongoing years. Besides certain opening points in the speech of Foreign Affairs Ministry’s representative, the city’s foreign affairs work would focus on contents, as below:
First, enhancing leadership, determined and creative direction in implementing synchronously and effectively on ground of implementing foreign policy of the 13th National Party Congress, results of the 1st National Foreign Relations Conference, Resolution of the 16th City Party Congress in association with the implementation of the 2022 theme on “Boosting urban embellishment and modernization –New urban model construction – Implementing digital transformation”. Enhancing consultation, research, and forecasting on international, regional situation and the city’s context, deploying tasks closely and appropriately tightened the city's external strategy; continuously implementing effectively Resolutions, Conclusions off the City Party Committee’s Standing Affairs Bureau on the city’s development of foreign affairs, foreign economic affairs, and international integration, such as: Conclusion no. 36-KL/TU issued on January 10, 2019, Action Plan No.10/01/2019 02-CTr/TU issued on January 12, 2016, and Action Plan No. 20-CTr/TU issued on December 29, 2016.
Second, upgrading effectiveness of economic diplomacy toward activeness, exploring in maximum the city’s potentials and advantages; actively organizing foreign investment promotion activities, attracting “eagles back to nest” particularly in the fields including digital transformation, high technology, e-commerce, IoT, R&, software industry, seaport – logistics, tourism – trade, toward which we have been moving. Continuously innovate foreign investment attraction, diversify from delegations exchange, at-scene investment promotion, business matching meetings to advertisement, online marketing, usage of Destination Management Organization – DMO, private – public partnership for maximum market and potential and experience-enriched investors. Foreign affairs need to transform from “courtesy – friendship”, “leading way”, to “paving way”, directly participating in support to foreign investors and partners from surveys, being on scene to operating and implementing investment projects, until withdrawing from the local market. Promote the attraction of ODA and other resources for socio-economic development, e-government, digital government, smart city, and digital ecosystem. Enhance the participation in building up incubators/ technology parks, “tech valley”. External relations work has also directly supported the city to build a free-trade zone and develop a night service economy to take full advantages of Hai Phong city.
Third, being active and effectively attending to multilateral forums, regional connection, particularly to international organizations: Association of Most Beautiful Bays in the World (MBBW), the Regional Network of Local Authorities for the Management of Human Settlements (CITYNET), Tourism Promotion for Asia-Pacific Cities Organization (TPO), WCCD, WeGO, OECD, etc. to boost strong development of political relations aligned with development in terms of economy, investment, trade and tourism, according to Secretariat’s direction spirit on strengthening and lifting up multilateral foreign affairs by 2030.
Fourth, well implementing the Cultural Diplomatic Program by 2030 accompanied with tourism promotion and development; first and foremost being determined and focusing on making Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Archipelago become a new World’s Natural Heritage. Diversifying foreign affairs information channels for introduction on people, history, culture and achievements gained in reform work, potentials and effectiveness in the city’s international cooperation.
Firth, enhancing people’s connection, exchange, and friendship for deepening mutual understanding between Hai Phong’s and foreign localities’ people; supporting, guiding, optimizing roles of organizations and individuals, particularly enterprises and businessmen in people foreign affairs. Being active in deployment the support of Non-government Organizations in the period of 2020-2025. Boosting Vietnamese overseas work in accordance with the spirit of Direction No. 45-CT/TW issued by the Politburo on May 19, 2015, implementation of Research Study on measures for human resource development of Hai Phong people overseas.
Sixth, well perform of state management of consular affairs, citizen protection, migration management, propaganda on laws and management of sea and island territories. Effectively manage incoming and outgoing delegations, official passports; international conferences and meetings. Constantly building and improving the contingent of staff engaged in external affairs to become more and more professional, qualified and capable to meet increasing requirements of the integration process.
Photo: Mr. Nguyen Anh Tuan, Member of the City Party Committee, Director of Hai Phong Foreign Affairs Department, received direction and expressed appreciation to the attention of the city leadership and representative of the Foreign Affairs Ministry. Source: Hai Phong Foreign Affairs Department.
Thanks to achievements gained in 2021 and recent years, along with the precious tradition of foreign affairs industry forged through the city’s development history, the external field would firmly gain more faith and motivation to continue making efforts to successfully carry out the tasks on three pillars: Party’s foreign affairs, State’s diplomacy, and people’s foreign affairs, making great contribution to the city’s construction and development as being expected./.