In the context of a rapidly changing and complex world and regional situation, with increasing strategic competition, the signing and effective implementation of international agreements play a key role in mobilizing external resources for the country's rapid and sustainable development. For Vietnam, strictly implementing international commitments and agreements is not only a legal obligation but also an important tool to enhance national status, expand development space, and consolidate the trust of international partners.
As a locality with a high degree of economic openness and a role as an industrial-logistics-international trade hub, Hai Phong City has always identified proactive, substantive, and effective implementation of international agreements as one of the important pillars of international integration and local economic diplomacy.
- Overview of the Implementation of Vietnam's International Agreements
During the 2021–2025 period, Vietnam signed and implemented a large volume of bilateral and multilateral international agreements, with an increasingly expanding scope covering politics, diplomacy, economy, trade, investment, science, technology, environment, culture, society, and sustainable development. These agreements have contributed significantly to promoting deep integration, enhancing national competitiveness, expanding markets, attracting investment, and receiving advanced technology and management knowledge.
Despite positive results, practice shows that the implementation of some agreements still faces difficulties due to institutional differences, limited resources, absorption capacity, and coordination mechanisms. This places higher requirements on the role of local authorities in transforming international commitments into specific development results.
Hai Phong City and CTP Group (Czech Republic) sign a Memorandum of Understanding with a commitment to invest 1 billion EURO into the city (Collected Image)
- The Role of Hai Phong in Implementing International Agreements
Following the foreign policy of the Party and State and the orientation for comprehensive and deep international integration, Hai Phong city has actively participated in signing and implementing international cooperation agreements, viewing them as direct tools to promote foreign economic development and enhance local endogenous capacity.
To date, Hai Phong has established cooperative relations with 31 foreign localities and has 58 valid international agreements, focusing on key areas such as investment, trade, logistics, science-technology, environment, education-training, culture, and tourism. These agreements are being implemented increasingly substantively, linked to specific programs, projects, and results:
- Cooperation agreements on economy, investment, and trade
This group of agreements accounts for the largest proportion and has the most direct and clear impact on the city's economic growth. Through effective implementation of international cooperation frameworks, Hai Phong has strongly attracted high-quality foreign investment. By the end of 2025, the city has 1,794valid FDI projects with a total registered capital of 51 billion USD from 42 countries and territories. The export market has expanded to more than 150 countries and territories, with a total import-export turnover estimated at over 90 billion USD, and the city continues to maintain a high trade surplus.
Notably, the successful organization of the 3rd APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC 3) meeting and the side investment promotion conference in Hai Phong is a clear demonstration of the effectiveness of implementing international economic integration commitments. At this event, the city awarded investment certificates and cooperation MOUs with a total value of over 15 billion USD, confirming Hai Phong's position as a strategic destination for global investors.
- Cooperation agreements on logistics, infrastructure, and international connectivity
As the largest port city in Northern Vietnam, Hai Phong places special importance on implementing international agreements in logistics and infrastructure connectivity. Through cooperation with partners from Japan, South Korea, Singapore, China, and international organizations, the city is step-by-step improving its seaport operation capacity, developing modern logistics services, and participating deeper in regional and global supply chains. Cargo throughput at the ports has maintained high growth rates over the years, consolidating its role as a transshipment hub for the Northern key economic zone.
Additionally, Hai Phong actively implements cooperation related to international aviation connectivity at Cat Bi International Airport and coordinates research on railway connections with China to diversify transport modes and reduce logistics costs for businesses.
- Cooperation agreements on science – technology and innovation
Following the orientation to promote technology diplomacy, Hai Phong has implemented many international cooperation agreements in science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation. Through partnerships with international localities, corporations, and organizations, the city is accessing new technologies such as semiconductor chips, artificial intelligence (AI), cloud computing, and the Internet of Things (IoT) to serve high-tech industrial development, smart cities, and digital government.
- Cooperation agreements on environment, green growth, and climate change response
As a coastal locality clearly affected by climate change, Hai Phong is particularly interested in international agreements in environment and sustainable development. The city has actively cooperated with international organizations such as JICA, the World Bank, and foreign NGOs to mobilize resources for green economy projects, circular economy, reducing ocean plastic waste, and adapting to climate change.
- Cooperation agreements on culture, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchange
Parallel to economic cooperation, Hai Phong focuses on culture, education, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges as the social foundation for sustainable integration. In 2025 alone, Hai Phong welcomed 340 international delegations with 3,567 people, expanding cooperation opportunities and promoting the image of a dynamic and integrated port city.
City Party Secretary Le Tien Chau receives and works with Japanese Ambassador to Vietnam Ito Naoki
III. Orientations to Improve the Effectiveness of International Agreements in the Future
In the coming time, Hai Phong city will continue to improve the quality and effectiveness of international agreements by:
- Prioritizing agreements serving strategic sectors: high-tech industry, logistics – seaports, digital transformation, and green transition.
- Closely linking signing with specific action programs and projects, clearly defining focal points, resources, and implementation roadmaps.
- Strengthening inter-disciplinary and inter-level coordination while promoting the digitalization of international agreement management.
- Promoting the role of businesses, overseas Vietnamese, and international partners in the implementation process.
The effective implementation of international agreements is both a responsibility and a great opportunity for Vietnam in general and Hai Phong in particular to utilize external resources and enhance status in the global value chain. As a major port city and industrial-logistics center, Hai Phong commits to remaining proactive, creative, and substantive in implementing international commitments, contributing to the national goals for 2030 and the vision for 2045.
Nguyen Thi Thanh Hao