The 22nd National Conference on Foreign Affairs: Enhancing the Role of Local Foreign Affairs in a New Stage of Development

On the afternoon of August 2, 2026, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs held the 22nd National Conference on Foreign Affairs under the theme “Enhancing Local Foreign Affairs and Effectively Mobilizing International Resources for Development.” Mr. Le Hoai Trung, Member of the Politburo and Minister of Foreign Affairs, chaired and delivered a keynote speech at the Conference.

Overview of the Conference. Photo: Quang Hoa

The Conference was attended in person by leaders of central Party and State agencies, ministries and sectors; leaders of localities and foreign affairs agencies; Vietnamese Ambassadors and Consuls General overseas; as well as leaders and officials of units under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Representing Lang Son Province were Mr. Vu Hoang Anh, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee; Mr. Dinh Huu Hoc, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; and leaders of the Lang Son Department of Foreign Affairs.

The 22nd National Conference on Foreign Affairs was the first national conference on local foreign affairs during the term of the 14th National Party Congress. The Conference aimed to build a common understanding and identify directions and solutions to enhance local foreign affairs, contributing to the effective implementation of the foreign policy of the 14th National Party Congress, Politburo Resolution No. 06-NQ/TW, and the country’s development goals in the new stage.

Mr. Le Hoai Trung, Member of the Politburo and Minister of Foreign Affairs, delivers a keynote speech at the Conference. Photo: Quang Hoa

Presenting the main report on local foreign affairs since the 21st National Conference on Foreign Affairs, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van said that local foreign affairs activities had continued despite many changes in the global situation and the domestic administrative system. Awareness of the role of foreign affairs has continued to improve. The scope of activities has expanded, while coordination between central and local authorities has also seen positive progress.

Local foreign affairs have been implemented in a relatively coordinated manner, contributing to maintaining a peaceful environment, protecting national interests and strengthening relations with international partners. Economic diplomacy, cultural diplomacy, educational cooperation, external information, consular work and affairs relating to overseas Vietnamese have continued to be promoted in line with the needs of each locality. Coordination among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Vietnamese representative missions abroad and localities has also become closer.

Despite these achievements, coordination, information sharing and follow-up after the signing of cooperation agreements remain inconsistent in some places. The identification of needs, development of proposals, connection with partners and evaluation of results have not always been well coordinated. Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van highlighted three key lessons: strengthening unified leadership and management and the role of focal agencies; improving preparation and clearly identifying cooperation needs and priorities; and clearly assigning responsibilities, maintaining coordination and promptly addressing difficulties.

During the 2026–2028 period, local foreign affairs will focus on improving the quality of foreign affairs programs, enhancing the effectiveness of international cooperation, strengthening management and coordination, improving organizational structures and staff capacity, and gradually modernizing foreign affairs activities. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to support localities by providing information, training officials, connecting international partners and addressing emerging issues.

Mr. Ngo Le Van, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, speaks at the Conference. Photo: Quang Hoa

In his keynote speech, Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Hoai Trung emphasized that, amid rapid and complex changes in the global, regional and domestic situation, foreign affairs and international integration need to continue renewing their thinking, approaches and methods of implementation, while adapting proactively and taking stronger action.

According to the Minister, Viet Nam has achieved important progress in strengthening its national capacity, international position and reputation. However, the country is entering a new stage of development with increasingly practical and specific requirements. The key question is no longer whether opportunities for cooperation exist, but how to turn the advantages and opportunities created through foreign affairs into concrete programs, projects and resources for development.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van presents the Medal “For the Cause of Vietnamese Diplomacy” to Mr. Dinh Huu Hoc, Member of the Standing Committee of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the Lang Son Provincial People’s Committee. Photo: Manh Kien

Minister Le Hoai Trung requested that local foreign affairs be implemented in a proactive and professional manner and closely linked with socio-economic development goals. He also called for stronger coordination among the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, ministries and sectors, Vietnamese representative missions abroad and localities. Leaders of local Party committees and authorities should strengthen their leadership and direction, while Vietnamese representative missions abroad should actively support localities in connecting with international partners.

Localities should clearly identify the role of foreign affairs in their development strategies and propose effective methods of implementation. They should also put forward recommendations on organizational structures, coordination mechanisms, human resource training and institutional improvement. At the same time, localities should openly share their difficulties and challenges so that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs can continue improving its guidance, addressing obstacles and enhancing support for localities.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs will continue to translate the major directions of the Party and State leaders into concrete action programs and practical solutions, helping make foreign affairs and international integration an important resource for the country’s rapid and sustainable development in the new era.

The Conference included two thematic sessions. The first session, entitled “Expanding Development Opportunities and Mobilizing International Resources for Local Growth,” focused on identifying opportunities, sharing experience in international cooperation, attracting external resources and proposing recommendations to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Vietnamese representative missions abroad.

The second session, entitled “Strengthening Organizational Structures and Enhancing Local Foreign Affairs Capacity in the New Situation,” focused on discussing and proposing solutions to improve organizational structures and develop human resources for foreign affairs work.

During the thematic sessions, leaders of localities and agencies, as well as heads of Vietnamese representative missions abroad, shared their experiences and proposed solutions to improve international cooperation, mobilize resources for development and strengthen local foreign affairs capacity in the new stage.

At the Conference, leaders of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs presented the Medal “For the Cause of Vietnamese Diplomacy” and Certificates of Merit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs to organizations and individuals with outstanding achievements in foreign affairs during the 2024–2026 period. Mr. Dinh Huu Hoc, Member of the Standing Committee of the Lang Son Provincial Party Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, was awarded the Medal “For the Cause of Vietnamese Diplomacy.” Leaders of the Lang Son Department of Foreign Affairs and heads of its professional divisions also received Certificates of Merit from the Minister of Foreign Affairs in recognition of their outstanding contributions to foreign affairs work.