In 2023, Da Nang welcomed a combined total of 372 international delegations, a rise of 208 compared to the same period in 2022. Also, eight delegations of the city leaders went abroad to promote cooperation and attract investment.

These figures show that Da Nang is very dynamic in international integration. The city’s foreign affairs activities in all fields are actively contributing to its breakthrough development.

Japanese Crown Prince Akishino (left) presenting a souvenir to Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang during his visit to the city in September, 2023. Photo: T. PHUONG

Being proactive and active in international integration and hi-tech investment attraction

With the motto of being proactive, adaptive, and creative, the city's foreign affairs work continues to be a bright spot in the country’s overall foreign affairs achievements.

Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Thuy Anh informed that a total of 372 international delegations visited the city in 2023, an increase of 208 against last year.

The visits continued to affirm the city's status as a highly inviting destination for foreign tourists, and a locality rich in cooperation and investment potential for international businesses and investors.

Da Nang clearly demonstrates the internationalisation, dynamism and innovation spirit of a major socio-economic centre of the country, aiming to be a major city of Southeast Asia in the spirit of Resolution No. 43-NQ/TW dated January 24, 2019 adopted by the Politburo on building and developing Da Nang by 2030, with a vision towards 2045.

A representative of the city's Investment Promotion and Support Board said that the unit coordinated relevant departments and branches to advise and organise 4 working groups of the city leaders to conduct investment promotion activities in Qatar, UAE (March 2023); Japan (March 2023); China (September 2023) and the United States (November 2023).

In particular, during their working trip to the US in November, the group of local officials, led by Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang, paid visits to a number of large companies and corporations specialising in hi-tech and semiconductor industries, such as Synopsys, Marvell, Nvidia and Intel Corporation.

Notably, representatives of Da Nang and the Synopsys International Co., Ltd. signed a Memorandum of Understanding on promoting the development of semiconductor industry in the city.

The success of the business trip shows that Da Nang is sensitive in seizing opportunities to develop its hi-tech and semiconductor industries right after Viet Nam and the US upgraded their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership. The main reason is that Viet Nam and the US decided to strengthen science, technology, and digital innovation cooperation, regarding this as a new breakthrough of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

This is a new driving force, and one of the breakthroughs to innovate Da Nang's growth model.

According to a representative of the city’s Investment Promotion and Support Board, the municipal People's Committee has assigned the Department of Information and Communications to research and develop a project "Semiconductor industry development in the city until 2030, with a vision to 2045”.

To effectively implement the theme for 2023 as ‘The year focuses on unleashing resources, attracting investment, maintaining economic growth and ensuring social welfare’, the city strived to conduct investment promotion activities in foreign countries.

As of December 15, 2023, the city had attracted US$181 million in FDI capital, a large increase compared to 2022. Accumulated to date, there were 1015 FDI projects in the city, with a total investment capital of over US$4 1 billion mainly from South Korean and Japanese investors investing outside the local industrial parks.

​A city of international events

In 2023, Da Nang continued to prove to international friends that it is a modern city with abundant resources and quick adaptation to the international environment.

Therefore, Da Nang is always the top choice among foreign businesses and organisations in organising international events in the fields of economics, education and culture.

According to a report released by the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs, in the first 10 months of 2023, the city received and processed 88 applications asking for permission to organise international conferences and seminars, an increase of 40 in comparison with the same period in 2022. The majority of events focused on study abroad, and promoting cooperation in tourism, high technology, health and foreign non-governmental projects.

Mrs. Nguyen Thuy Anh informed that activities, events, tourism products and services were continuously organised, contributing to creating a vibrant and fresh atmosphere that attracts a large number of domestic and international tourists to Da Nang.

Last year, many international cultural diplomatic events took place in the city. Notable among them were a series of events celebrating the 50^th anniversary of the establishment of Viet Nam – Japan, and Viet Nam - France diplomatic ties, the 9^th Viet Nam - India International Yoga Festival, the Viet Nam - Russia cultural exchange and many other exciting events.

These events and activities brought to the city a diverse picture of cultural diplomacy, so local people had the opportunity to experience and understand about foreign countries nationwide.

Notably, in September 2023, Japanese Crown Prince Akishino and Crown Princess Kawashima Kiko, who were on an official visit to Viet Nam on the occasion of the 50^th anniversary of establishing diplomatic relations between Viet Nam and Japan (1973-2023), arrived in Da Nang and Quang Nam Province.

During his meeting with municipal Party Committee Secretary Nguyen Van Quang, Japanese Crown Prince Akishino expressed his hope that the cooperative relationships between Japan and Viet Nam, and between Japanese localities and Da Nang, will be increasingly deepened in various aspects.

The aforementioned foreign affairs achievements in 2023 will greatly contribute to creating momentum for Da Nang to regain economic growth in 2024 - "The year focuses on promoting administrative reforms, strengthening discipline, continuing to unleash investment resources, boosting economic growth and ensuring social welfare".

​Reporting by THANH PHUONG - Translating by M.DUNG