Marking the 70th Anniversary of Hai Phong’s Traditional Foreign Affairs (March 25, 1955–March 25, 2025), in the morning of March 25 the Department of Foreign Affairs held a seminar titled “Local Diplomacy: Enhancing Its Role in the City’s Socio‑Economic Development.”
Over the years, Hai Phong has leveraged its position as a leading locality contributing to national socio‑economic growth, defense‑security, and diplomacy. The city’s foreign affairs body (established in 1955 as the Foreign Affairs Commission, now the Department of Foreign Affairs) has built a strong reputation and continues to play a vital role in connecting the city with international partners.
With a vision‑driven international cooperation strategy, Hai Phong now trades with 130 out of 204 countries and territories, helping implement Vietnam’s 17 Free Trade Agreements. The city has become a hub for major investors, integrated into global value chains, and is making significant contributions to local socio‑economic development.
Culture is used strategically to foster diplomatic relations and promote Hai Phong’s image and brand internationally. Notably, the city successfully lobbied UNESCO to recognize Ha Long Bay – Cat Ba Islands as a World Natural Heritage site, honoring its ecological value and opening opportunities for green conservation, sustainable development, and tourism growth.
People‑to‑people diplomacy has been active during major national, municipal, and international events. Hai Phong has friendly/cooperative ties with 26 localities across Japan, Korea, China, the U.S., Australia, Russia, Laos, Cambodia, and nearly 50 international and foreign NGOs. The city also participates in multilateral networks such as CityNet, MBBW, TPO, and Mayors for Peace. From 2021 to 2024, foreign NGO aid projects valued at approximately USD 24.5 million were actively promoted and implemented. Remittances through banks during the same period reached around USD 1.6 billion, a 19.4% increase compared to 2016–2020, reflecting effective engagement with the overseas Vietnamese community.
At the seminar, Vice‑Chairman Hoang Minh Cuong stated that the city targeted 12.5% economic growth in 2025 and aims by 2030 to become a modern, smart, and sustainable industrial city in Southeast Asia, guided by green, circular economies and driven by science and technology. To achieve these goals, Hai Phong will expand its economic space, boost trade, enhance ODA/FDI attraction, promote cultural exchanges, and strengthen scientific, diplomatic, and overseas-Vietnamese community connections. He hopes that delegates, with their dedication and experience, will discuss initiatives and share practices to further strengthen local diplomacy for socio‑economic development. He also expressed confidence that the city will continue to receive robust support and collaboration from central authorities and international partners.
The seminar featured 13 presentations from ministries, municipal agencies, the city’s union of science and technology associations, foreign diplomatic missions to Vietnam, and domestic & foreign enterprises. Topics included economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, and overseas Vietnamese affairs. The goal was to build a data-driven foundation to improve diplomatic advisory work in the next phase. It was also an opportunity to examine how local diplomacy can better support socio‑economic development, identify emerging opportunities and challenges, and propose solutions to optimize diplomatic activities—helping Hai Phong reach regional and international stature and realize its vision for 2030 and beyond to 2050.