Overview of the conference

Attending the conference were Mr. Ngo Le Van, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chairman of the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO Mr. Hoang Minh Cuong, Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong People’s Committee; representatives of city departments, agencies, and units; and international guests.

On this occasion, 47 collectives and individuals from within Vietnam and abroad were awarded Certificates of Merit by the Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs for their achievements in external relations work.

The year 2025 marked a vibrant milestone for the city’s external relations, with comprehensive achievements across multiple fields. A prominent highlight was the successful coordination and organization of the 3rd Meeting of the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC 3) and the Hai Phong Investment Promotion Conference 2025 under the theme “Hai Phong – A Strategic Destination of the New Era.” These large-scale events not only attracted record-high FDI inflows but also opened up strategic cooperation opportunities in high technology, semiconductors, and green energy. In addition, cultural diplomacy achieved significant results through the preservation and promotion of world heritage sites recognized by UNESCO, contributing to enhancing Hai Phong’s position and image on the international media map.

Entering 2026 with a breakthrough mindset and a new stature, the foreign affairs sector has identified external relations as a true pioneering force, paving the way for deeper integration. The city will focus on swiftly and effectively implementing special mechanisms and policies under National Assembly Resolution No. 226 to promote the free trade zone and modern logistics infrastructure. The key focus is to intensify economic diplomacy to attract strategic investors, while simultaneously creating an ideal living ecosystem with high-quality education and healthcare infrastructure to attract and retain international talent and experts to work in the Port City.

In his directive remarks, Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van commended Hai Phong’s breakthrough achievements, especially the successful hosting of major international events and the attraction of record FDI. He emphasized that in 2026, the city’s external relations must maintain their pioneering role and shift strongly toward substantive diplomacy that directly serves strategic socio-economic objectives. The focus should be on strengthening economic diplomacy to attract investment in high technology, semiconductors, and green energy, and on fully leveraging the special mechanisms provided by National Assembly Resolution No. 226. He also requested that the city continue to strongly promote the image of a dynamic Hai Phong rich in heritage identity, and pay close attention to training a streamlined, highly competent diplomatic workforce. With a breakthrough mindset, the Deputy Minister expressed confidence that Hai Phong’s external relations will continue to serve as an important bridge, positioning the city as a central connector between Vietnam and the world.

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