HCM City (VNA) - Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Duong Ngoc Hai on November 15 had a meeting with the newly appointed heads of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad for the 2024-2027 period.
The event drew 26 ambassadors and consuls-general to represent Vietnam across the five continents.
During the meeting, Hai urged the new diplomats to assist the southern metropolis in achieving its socio-economic development goals in the coming years.
Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet highlighted these diplomatic missions as "sensitive antennas" that keep Vietnam informed on global trends, and as vital "bridges" connecting the city with the international community, enhancing the city’s economic diplomacy and fostering its sustainable development.
The newly appointed ambassadors expressed their hope for HCM City to provide them in advance with information about any cultural, economic, and diplomatic events, especially cultural and food festivals. They emphasised the importance of early communication to facilitate cooperation with Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad. Additionally, the ambassadors suggested that the city prepare communications products, particularly for the upcoming 50th anniversary of the liberation of the South and national reunification, to better promote its achievements internationally.
Hai told the diplomats about HCM City's ongoing efforts to adapt its economic growth model in response to both domestic and global challenges, saying the city is prioritising science, technology, innovation, green transition, and digital transformation as key drivers for future growth.
The city is focusing on attracting foreign investment, especially in high-tech sectors such as information technology, biotechnology, automation, and clean energy, while seeking investment in projects related to semiconductor manufacturing, design technologies, and next-generation chip technologies. It is currently calling for investments in 54 projects under public-private partnerships (PPP), including 41 in the fields of culture, sports, and health care, as well as five in transport and eight others in education and sports in Thu Duc city, he said.
For the city to achieve sustainable development and become a modern, liveable urban centre, Hai stressed the signifiance of both government commitments and external resources in the form of capital, knowledge, and technology.
He called on the newly appointed ambassadors and consuls-general to assist the city in economic diplomacy, advising on global trends and developments in science and technology, supporting cultural diplomacy, and promoting cooperation with foreign localities. They were also encouraged to foster people-to-people diplomacy and overseas Vietnamese affairs, helping to raise the city’s profile as a friendly, attractive investment destination.
At the meeting, the new ambassadors and consuls-general briefly outlined their upcoming activities and made suggestions to improve the coordination efficiency./.
