Vietnam is preparing a new comprehensive foreign affairs strategy designed to strengthen the country's international engagement and better mobilize global resources for national development, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung announced.
The minister made the remarks on August 2 at the 22nd National Conference on External Relations, held as part of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference under the theme "Elevating local diplomacy and effectively mobilizing international resources for development."
Local diplomacy must deliver measurable results
Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung says local diplomacy must deliver tangible results on schedule and earn public trust.
Addressing delegates, Le Hoai Trung said that while peace, cooperation and development remain dominant global trends, strategic rivalry, trade competition and the restructuring of international partnerships are becoming increasingly intense.
He also highlighted the rapid advance of science and technology as a force reshaping global competition.
Quoting remarks by Communist Party General Secretary and State President To Lam at the opening of the 33rd Diplomatic Conference, the minister noted that international competition now extends "to every laboratory and educational institution," underscoring the need for Vietnam's foreign affairs work to innovate, adapt proactively and closely support the country's development goals.
Le Hoai Trung said Vietnam's target of achieving 10% economic growth requires meaningful contributions from local diplomacy.
"No country, locality, organization or business has achieved successful development without international integration in one form or another," he said.
He stressed that foreign affairs and international integration are responsibilities shared across the entire political system rather than the Ministry of Foreign Affairs alone.
To assess the effectiveness of local diplomacy, the minister outlined four key criteria:
Delegates discuss international cooperation, investment promotion and development opportunities during the conference.
Le Hoai Trung called on provinces and cities to proactively review and update their external affairs strategies, aligning them with socio-economic development plans, regional planning and new development priorities.
Local governments should also identify priority partners, target markets and areas for cooperation while reviewing existing international commitments to determine which agreements can be expanded, revised or translated into specific investment projects.
The minister urged Vietnam's overseas representative missions to strengthen support for local governments and encouraged provinces to report implementation challenges promptly.
He added that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stands ready to work alongside all 34 provinces and centrally governed cities in developing tailored diplomatic strategies.
Vietnam is also expected to introduce a new comprehensive foreign affairs strategy at a higher level, he said, without providing further details.
Economic diplomacy takes center stage
Hanoi Vice Chairman Do Anh Tuan addresses the conference.
Vietnam's Ambassador to the United States, Nguyen Quoc Dung, encouraged local governments to position themselves to attract high-quality foreign direct investment under the framework of the Vietnam–US Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
Meanwhile, Hanoi Vice Chairman Do Anh Tuan said the capital is shifting its diplomatic approach from one focused on adaptation to one centered on proactive contribution and agenda-setting.
He cited efforts to develop Hoa Lac Hi-Tech Park into a regional hub for semiconductor manufacturing and artificial intelligence industries.
Hai Phong Vice Chairman Hoang Minh Cuong shared the city's experience in what he described as "development-oriented diplomacy," including assigning dedicated officials to monitor the implementation of every international commitment after agreements are signed.
Representatives from Hue and Ninh Binh also discussed how cultural diplomacy and heritage preservation can become drivers of economic growth, arguing that heritage should be viewed not only as something to preserve but also as a valuable development resource.
Strengthening local diplomatic capacity
Vietnam's Ambassador to China Pham Thanh Binh speaks at the conference.
Delegates acknowledged that many local foreign affairs agencies face similar institutional challenges despite differing regional circumstances.
Among the most pressing issues are limited staffing levels and difficulties attracting highly qualified personnel capable of handling both strategic policy advice and urgent cross-border matters.
Vietnam's Ambassador to China, Pham Thanh Binh, said bilateral relations have entered a new stage of increasingly substantive cooperation following recent high-level visits by leaders of both countries.
He described local governments as the key actors responsible for translating high-level political consensus into concrete projects.
Pham Thanh Binh also called for standardized competency frameworks for local foreign affairs officials.
For priority markets such as China, he said, officials should possess not only advanced Chinese-language skills but also in-depth knowledge of regional development strategies, investment promotion and international cooperation.
Local authorities additionally proposed greater decentralization accompanied by key performance indicators, a stable organizational model for provincial foreign affairs agencies, integrated data systems supported by artificial intelligence and a common digital architecture for Vietnam's diplomatic sector.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
