The conference was attended by representatives of central-level ministries, agencies and organizations, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, leaders of several provinces and centrally - run cities, relevant departments and agencies of Hai Phong, and more than 200 delegates representing foreign NGOs operating in Vietnam.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van delivers the opening remarks.

In his opening remarks, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van emphasized that the conference was held in the first year of Vietnam’s implementation of the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and the 2026–2030 Socio-Economic Development Plan, marking the beginning of a new development era centered on renewing the growth model, with science and technology, digital transformation, and green development serving as key drivers.

Affirming that Vietnam consistently values the role of foreign NGOs in social welfare and sustainable poverty reduction, the Deputy Minister said that competent authorities are actively advising on the issuance of a decree to replace Decree No. 58/2022/ND-CP, with a focus on maximizing the reduction and simplification of administrative procedures and enhancing openness and transparency to create the most favorable legal framework for NGOs to operate.

Going forward, cooperation should shift significantly from conventional aid provision toward knowledge sharing and technology transfer, while being closely aligned with the actual needs and capacity of each locality to absorb and effectively utilize such support.

Vice Chairman of the Hai Phong Municipal People’s Committee Hoang Minh Cuong delivers his welcoming remarks.

In his welcoming remarks, Vice Chairman Hoang Minh Cuong emphasized that Hai Phong has consistently taken the lead in expanding its international integration and attaching importance to knowledge resources and development-support projects from international partners. Alongside the city’s rapid industrialization and urban modernization, Hai Phong pays particular attention to harmoniously addressing social issues, developing grassroots healthcare, promoting comprehensive education, and supporting vulnerable groups.

The municipal government pledges to continue accompanying and facilitating the smooth implementation of aid programs and projects, ensuring that they generate humanitarian value and tangible benefits for the community.

Discussion session focusing on two key themes: cooperation in science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation; and cooperation in sustainable economic, environmental, cultural and social development.

During the presentations, representatives from the Central Policy and Strategy Commission, the Ministry of Finance, and the State Bank of Vietnam provided comprehensive information on the strategy for renewing Viet Nam’s development model, new regulations on the management and use of non-refundable aid that does not constitute official development assistance (ODA), as well as regulations on anti-money laundering and the microfinance development mechanism recently introduced from late 2025 to the present.

Representatives of localities and foreign NGOs sign community development cooperation agreements.

Under the direction of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the conference devoted most of its time to discussions on two key themes: cooperation in science and technology development, innovation and digital transformation; and cooperation in sustainable economic, environmental, cultural and social development.

Leaders of ministries, sectors and localities, together with representatives of prominent international organizations such as the Netherlands Development Organisation (SNV), The Asia Foundation (TAF), Plan International and ActionAid, openly identified bottlenecks in project approval procedures and proposed flexible “matching” mechanisms to align each organization’s professional strengths with urgent local needs.

Priority areas were clearly identified, including technology transfer, the application of artificial intelligence (AI), improvement of digital skills among local workers, promotion of the circular economy, climate-resilient agriculture, and livelihood support for women and children in disadvantaged areas.

Representatives of localities and foreign NGOs sign community development cooperation agreements.

As part of the conference, three development cooperation agreements for the 2026–2031 period were signed. These included an agreement between the Tuyen Quang Provincial People’s Committee and Plan International in Vietnam on improving living conditions for disadvantaged children and young people, as well as two agreements between remote communes in Lam Dong Province and ActionAid in Vietnam to support sustainable community development.

Delegates attend the conference.

In her concluding remarks, Director General of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Cultural Diplomacy under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Hong Van highly appreciated the open and responsible dialogue among delegates. She affirmed that the conference had achieved all of its objectives, clarified new requirements for aid management, and opened up substantive opportunities for connecting international organizations with the needs of localities.

All recommendations and proposals raised at the conference will be fully considered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs during the process of finalizing the new decree to replace the Government’s Decree No. 58/2022/ND-CP.

That afternoon, delegates conducted field visits to the Area Program Project of World Vision International and the Vietnam–Korea Project for the Care of International Marriage Families implemented by KOCUN in Hai Phong./.