Politics

Conference highlights role of localities' foreign affairs

The 21st national conference on foreign affairs wrapped up in Hanoi on December 18 with the adoption of action orientations for localities’ external relations and international integration.
Conference highlights role of localities' foreign affairs ảnh 1Delegates to the 21st conference on foreign affairs in a group photo. (Source: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) – The 21st national conference on foreign affairs wrapped up in Hanoi on December 18 withthe adoption of action orientations for localities’ external relations andinternational integration.
 
Under the orientations, the policies on foreignaffairs and international integration adopted at the 13th NationalParty Congress will be implemented concertedly, effectively, and comprehensively.

Other targets include raising public awareness ofthe role of foreign affairs and international integration of localities,promoting economic diplomacy, and reforming local-level external work.

Localities will also set out specific plans forforeign relations, enhance the work across spheres, and increase investment inthe field, especially in terms of material facilities and personnel.

The conference, held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA),saw the attendance of nearly 500 delegates from ministries, agencies,localities, Vietnamese representative offices abroad, foreign embassies, and internationalorganisations in Vietnam.

In his opening remarks, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui ThanhSon lauded the close coordination between localities and the MoFA and otheragencies in external relations over the past time.
Conference highlights role of localities' foreign affairs ảnh 2Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son speaks at the conference. (Photo: VNA)
To raise the effectiveness of localities’ foreign relations, hesuggested optimising the country’s new position and potential, with economicdiplomacy being the key task, stressing that the work should be done in aprofessional and modern fashion, with a focus on raising the personnel quality.

Delivering a speech at the conference, Country Director of theADB for Vietnam Shantanu Chakraborty pointed to opportunities for Vietnam toaccess loans in order to spur its economic growth, and suggested the country improveits competitiveness in supply chains.

Gabor Fluit, Chairman of the European Chamber of Commerce(EuroCham) in Vietnam, expressed his support for the Vietnam-Europe relationsthrough green economy cooperation mechanisms, thus ensuring the country’s sustainableand comprehensive growth./.
VNA
#foreign affairs #external relations #international integration #economic diplomacy #Bui Thanh Son #Vietnam #VietnamPlus #Vietnam news
Follow VietnamPlus

Related News

Economic diplomacy contributes to national development: Deputy FM

Economic diplomacy contributes to national development: Deputy FM

Deputy Foreign Minister and head of the Steering Committee for Economic Diplomacy Nguyen Minh Vu has written an article highlighting how economic diplomacy has positively contributed to the national development and effectively played a role following the directions set forth at the 13th National Party Congress.
Economic diplomacy helps tighten Vietnam - Cuba special ties: Deputy PM

Economic diplomacy helps tighten Vietnam - Cuba special ties: Deputy PM

Economy is a diplomatic aspect helping tighten the special friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Cuba, Deputy Prime Minister Tran Hong Ha said while visiting establishments of some Vietnamese businesses and meeting with the Vietnamese community in the Caribbean country.

See more

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (R) hosts the UK's Ambassador to Vietnam Iain Frew in Hanoi on May 20 (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam attaches great importance to ties with UK: PM

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung suggested that the two countries work together towards raising bilateral trade turnover to 10 billion USD in 2026 and eventually 15 billion USD through expanded market access for each other’s goods.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (right) and Ambassador of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) to Vietnam Ri Sung Guk at their meeting on May 20 (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister receives DPRK Ambassador

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung affirmed that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always attach importance to and wish to continuously nurture and promote the Vietnam–DPRK relationship in a more substantive and effective manner in the new development era, in line with the common aspirations of the two peoples and contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (right) and Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes at their meeting on May 20 (Photo: VNA)

PM vows to deepen Vietnam-Cuba special ties

At a reception for Cuban Ambassador to Vietnam Rogelio Polanco Fuentes in Hanoi on May 20, Prime Minister Le Minh Hung stressed that the Party, Government and people of Vietnam always remember and treasure the solidarity and wholehearted support that the Party, Government and people of Cuba have extended to Vietnam during its past struggle for national liberation as well as the current cause of national construction and development.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung has a phone conversation with New Zealand’s Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on May 20 (Photo: VNA)

PM holds phone talks with New Zealand counterpart

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung proposed six major orientations for future collaboration, including further strengthening political trust through increased delegation exchanges, high-level contacts and bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and promoting more substantive defence and security cooperation through enhanced exchanges and stronger naval and maritime security capabilities.

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man addresses the working session on May 20 (Photo: VNA)

NA leader urged more substantive, professional deputy affairs work

National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man asked the NA Committee for Deputy Affairs to shift strongly from procedural consultation to strategic consultation, moving beyond the mindset of merely “following procedures correctly” towards policy design, process standardisation, quality control and forecasting.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam speaks at the working session in Hanoi with the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Policies and Strategies and relevant agencies on assessing national development resources. (Photo: VNA)

Top leader orders decisive action to unlock idle resources for growth

Public resources must lead and activate private resources, while public investment should stimulate broader social investment. FDI, meanwhile, should move from quantity-based attraction toward quality-based absorption linked with technology transfer and stronger domestic linkages, said top leader To Lam.

Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang speaks at the event. (Photo: VNA)

Editorial team meets to begin review of 100-year Party leadership

Politburo member Prof. Dr. Nguyen Xuan Thang described the review as a major strategic political task, adding that the process must deliver historical depth, theoretical vision, and strategic foresight to guide Vietnam toward fast and sustainable development in the decades ahead.

NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man speaks at the working session with standing members of the NA's Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs in Hanoi on May 20. (Photo: VNA)

NA Chairman asks for enhanced policy advisory to support double-digit growth target

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Tran Thanh Man has demanded the NA's Committee for Economic and Financial Affairs to enhance its policy advisory capacity, stressing that robust and evidence-based policymaking is essential to achieving the country’s ambition of double-digit economic growth while safeguarding macroeconomic stability.

Prime Minister Le Minh Hung (R) and Ambassador Rick Switzer, Deputy US Trade Representative, in Hanoi on May 20, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Prime Minister receives Deputy US Trade Representative

The Vietnamese Government will continue to work closely with the US side to soon finalise the agreement, thereby further deepening economic, trade, and investment cooperation as the main driving force for bilateral relations, said Prime Minister Le Minh Hung.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung (R) and Swedish State Secretary for Foreign Affairs Dag Hartelius in Hanoi on May 19, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Vietnam sees Sweden one of leading European partners in innovation, green development

Discussing regional and international issues of mutual concern, both sides affirmed their support for multilateralism and free trade, as well as the peaceful settlement of disputes and conflicts in line with international law and the UN Charter. They also stressed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in accordance with international law, particularly the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).