Chi tiết tin - Sở Ngoại vụ

As the province enters a new stage of development, the Department has identified foreign affairs as a pioneering spearhead for peace, cooperation, and growth. With a proactive, flexible, and creative approach, the Department advised the Provincial Party Standing Committee to issue Action Program No. 04-CTr/TU for implementing the Politburo’s Resolution No. 59-NQ/TW on international integration. The program emphasizes leveraging Quang Tri’s geopolitical advantages including three international border gates (Lao Bao, La Lay, and Cha Lo), two deep-water ports (Hon La and My Thuy), and a renewable energy space linking with Laos. Through this, the province positions its key pillars of integration around clean energy, logistics, cross-border trade, and international tourism.

Building on that foundation, the Provincial People’s Committee issued Plan No. 1346/KH-UBND, comprising 36 groups of tasks and 44 quantitative targets. For the first time, the province adopted a KPI-based governance model, clearly assigning responsibilities to 22 departments, sectors, and localities. A Steering Committee, headed by the Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee, was established, with the Department of Foreign Affairs serving as the standing body responsible for coordination, supervision, and regular reporting.

Alongside its strategic advisory role, the Department has proactively developed a long-term vision through three key projects: “The 17th Parallel - Memories of War and Aspirations for Peace”, aimed at submission to UNESCO during 2027–2029; “Foreign Economic Development Strategy 2026–2035”, positioning Quang Tri as the gateway of international integration for Central Vietnam;“Comprehensive Friendship Cooperation with 5 Lao Provinces.” The Department is also advancing cooperative initiatives with Japanese localities (Hiroshima, Shizuoka, and Yamanashi) and Korean provinces (Jeollabuk, Jeollanam, and Gangwon), focusing on education and training, digital transformation, green economy, high-tech agriculture, innovation, and investment promotion.

In expanding key partnerships, the Department has engaged with the Embassies of Japan and South Korea in Vietnam to lay the groundwork for local-level cooperation agreements and an investment promotion conference in 2026. It has also worked with units under the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to connect with French partners and major coffee-exporting nations such as Brazil, Colombia, and Ethiopia, aiming at mobilizing sponsorship for the 2026 Khe Sanh Coffee Festival - an event marking the 100th anniversary of coffee cultivation in Khe Sanh. This initiative aims to promote Quang Tri’s image and boost tourism and agricultural trade. Additionally, the Department implemented the Pacific Friendship 2025, which received high praise from the U.S. Ambassador to Vietnam. Regarding heritage conservation, it has worked closely with the Vietnam National Commission for UNESCO and international experts to refine the concept for the dossier “The 17th Parallel - Memories of War and Aspirations for Peace.” Once recognized as a World Documentary Heritage, it is expected to form, together with the Phong Nha - Ke Bang World Natural Heritage Site, an “International Heritage Corridor of North Central Vietnam.”

The mobilization of foreign non-governmental aid continues to be a highlight, with Quang Tri ranking among the top five provinces nationwide, securing over USD 154 million in aid during the 2021–2025 period. Notably, in just the four months following the provincial merger, the province mobilized USD 12.15 million, the highest figure in Central Vietnam. These resources have focused on education, healthcare, livelihoods, the environment, climate change adaptation, mine clearance, and assistance for victims of Agent Orange. In border diplomacy, the Department has maintained and expanded comprehensive Vietnam–Laos cooperation, while simultaneously promoting digital transformation in line with ISO 9001:2015 standards, moving toward the model of a “Digital Department of Foreign Affairs.” Regarding the Lao Bao–Densavan Cross-Border Economic and Trade Zone Project, the Department has actively provided intersectoral consultations and coordinated with the Savannakhet provincial authorities, ensuring readiness for implementation once approved by the Prime Minister. Traditional cooperation with Cuba has also been strengthened across healthcare, agriculture, education and training, urban architecture, and culture. On April 22, 2023, Quang Tri and Holguín provinces signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a friendship, and are now implementing a detailed cooperation plan. Investment promotion and local branding have been actively advanced through programs in South Korea and China. The province has also hosted and worked with the Ambassadors of Japan and the United States. Notably, Gangwon Province (South Korea) has invited a Quang Tri delegation to visit in March 2026 for tourism networking and cooperation. Protocol, consular affairs, and citizen protection have been implemented effectively, with consular matters handled promptly, contributing to the image of a dynamic and friendly Quang Tri.

Entering the 2025–2030 period, the Department has set forth its guiding motto:
“Proactivity – Creativity - Effectiveness - Deep Integration.” It will focus on 11 key priorities: (1) Comprehensive implementation of the resolutions and action plans of the Central Government and the province; (2) Innovating thinking and enhancing strategic advisory capacity. (3) Standardizing procedures and modernizing state management with a shared foreign affairs database; (4) Developing high-quality human resources for external relations; (5) Strengthening external communication and promoting the image of “Quang Tri - Land of Peace, Heritage, and Aspiration for Development.”; (6) Enhancing intersectoral coordination; (7) Leveraging advantages in border gates, seaports, and renewable energy to form a Central Vietnam logistics and clean energy hub; (8) Promoting sustainable economic diplomacy linked with heritage - tourism, and key agricultural products; (9) Expanding the East - West Economic Corridor (EWEC+) and cooperation within the Vietnam – Laos –Thailand - Myanmar subregion; (10) Advancing digital diplomacy, knowledge diplomacy, and innovation; (11) Taking an active role in implementing the Lao Bao - Densavan Cross-Border Economic and Trade Zone Project in line with international best practices.

To meet the growing scope of responsibilities, the Department has identified four key challenges: (1) The current workforce consists of only 28 civil servants, while the workload has increased significantly under Circular No. 09/2025/TT-BNG; (2) Specialized vehicles have been in use for nearly 20 years, frequently breaking down and affecting operations, especially in border areas; (3) IT infrastructure remains fragmented and insufficient to connect with the national foreign affairs data system; (4) Funding for operations, international promotion, and human resource training remains limited.

Based on these realities, the Department respectfully proposes that the Province: Add two administrative positions in the immediate term under the job position scheme; Approve the purchase of a 4WD vehicle to serve foreign affairs missions, particularly in mountainous and border regions; Include the project “Comprehensive Digital Transformation of the Department of Foreign Affairs” in the 2026–2030 medium-term public investment plan, and assign the Department to lead the “Digital Transformation in External Communication 2026–2035” Project; Upgrade the Quang Tri Service Center for Foreign Affairs into a professional hub for organizing international events, investment promotion, and NGO cooperation; Allocate funding from the Science and Technology budget at the start of 2026 to implement the World Documentary Heritage Project “The 17th Parallel - Memories of War and Aspirations for Peace.”; Issue a deepening international integration strategy through 2030, with a vision toward 2045, focusing on three pillars: (1) Deep economic integration, (2) Cooperation in education, healthcare, environment, and digital transformation, (3) People-to-people exchange and cultural–tourism–heritage–peace diplomacy.

To continue advancing strategic priorities and expanding international partnerships, the Department respectfully recommends that the Provincial Party Secretary direct and preside over two major high-level foreign affairs activities. First is a working visit to five provinces of the Lao People’s Democratic Republic - Savannakhet, Salavan, Sekong, Khammouane, and Champasak. This focuses on field survey of the Lao Bao - Densavan Cross-Border Special Economic and Trade Zone; exploring mineral cooperation potential in Sekong; and strengthening connectivity among the Lao Bao, La Lay, and Cha Lo international border gates. Second is an official mission to Japan in March 2026, visiting Hiroshima and Yamanashi Prefectures. In Hiroshima: Signing a Memorandum of Understanding on Comprehensive Friendship Cooperation; Organizing an investment promotion conference; Learning from Hiroshima’s experience in peace-related initiatives. In Yamanashi: Attending an international conference on green hydrogen; Signing cooperation agreements in renewable energy, high technology, smart agriculture, digital transformation, and human resource training; Hosting an investment promotion conference to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

In concluding the session, the Provincial Party Secretary highly commended the report presented by the Department of Foreign Affairs, describing it as strategic, insightful, and rich in valuable information that provides a comprehensive overview of the province’s external relations. The Secretary basically concurred with the Department’s recommendations, while emphasizing the significance of the project “The 17th Parallel – Memories of War and Aspirations for Peace” to be submitted to UNESCO for recognition as a World Documentary Heritage Site. The Secretary highlighted this initiative as a profound and meaningful endeavor, reflecting Quang Tri’s cultural identity and growing stature on the international stage. The Secretary also acknowledged the Department’s efforts and creativity in providing strategic advice and effectively implementing foreign affairs activities, which have expanded international partnerships and enhanced the province’s reputation.

Leaders of the Department of Foreign Affairs expressed sincere appreciation for the Secretary’s guidance and reaffirmed their commitment to building a modern, professional, and deeply integrated foreign affairs sector. The Department pledged to continue fulfilling its strategic advisory role for the Provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee, striving to transform Quang Tri into a regional hub for clean energy, international logistics, and global cooperation in Central Vietnam - a place where the memory of peace is transformed into a driving force for development.