With the motto "Connecting Da Nang with the world", the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs proactively advises the People's Committee to actively promote international integration and cooperation at all levels from the city to districts, departments and branches.

Chairman of the People's Committee of Hoa Vang District Phan Van Ton (4th, right) and Bonghwa District Chief Park Hyun Gook (5th, left) signing a letter of intent on promoting the establishment of friendly and cooperative relations between the two localities. Photo: T.P

Highlights in international cooperation

According to Director of the Da Nang Department of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Xuan Binh, Da Nang has so far established cooperative relations with 49 provinces and cities of 22 countries around the world. Many cooperation programmes have been effectively implemented, contributing to the socio-economic development of the city.

Currently, international cooperation activities are organised not only at the municipal level but also at the district, department and branch levels. In particular, many localities and departments in the city have signed Memoranda of Understanding with many foreign localities. For instance, Hai Chau, Son Tra and Hoa Vang districts in Da Nang have established cooperative relationships with Uiwang City, Gurye District and Yeongyang District (South Korea) respectively.

In July 2021, the People's Committee of Hai Chau District and South Korea’s Uiwang City inked an online agreement to establish a cooperative relationship.

Chairman of the People's Committee of the Hai Chau District Le Tu Gia Thanh said that the signing marked the first milestone in which the district has established a cooperative relationship with a foreign locality to expand development space and find new driving forces for its economic growth. Under the agreement, the two sides boosts the bilateral cooperation in culture, education and economy.

Since October 2023, Hai Chau District and Uiwang City have organised cultural exchange programmes for junior high school pupils every year. In the economic field, the two localities have enhanced the exchange of information on trade and investment promotion, and created conditions for local businesses and companies to participate in investment forums and trade fairs so as to attract investment and develop the economy.

At the recent Uiwang Railway Festival, the delegation of Hai Chau District have introduced and promoted a number of typical OCOP products of the district and the city to seek opportunities to export products to the South Korean market. Included are Mrs Lieu's 'banh kho me' (dried sesame seed cakes), Top Coco baked coconut cake, MaYaCa clean coffee, and Nui Son cordyceps.

At the same time, an exchange of experiences in tax work between the Hai Chau District Tax Department, the People's Committees of the wards of Phuoc Ninh, Hoa Thuan Tay and Hai Chau 2, and the Tax Management and Collection Department of Uiwang City have been organised.

Mr. Le Tu Gia Thanh added that in 2025, Hai Chau District and Uiwang City will sign an agreement to build a comprehensive cooperative relationship. Accordingly, the two sides plan to organise many exchange and cooperation activities in various fields. This will contribute to creating resources for socio-economic development, advertising tourism, and deepening the cooperative and friendly relationship between Da Nang and Korean localities.

In early 2024, Son Tra District signed a cooperation agreement with Gurye District, Jeollanam Province, South Korea.

Mr. Hoang Son Tra, Chairman of the People's Committee of Son Tra District, remarked that Son Tra District and Gurye District shared many similarities in natural landscape, and development orientation for tourism, culture and sports.

He also highlighted the great significance of the signing ceremony in serving as a premise for the two localities to further develop the friendly and cooperative relations, and to enhance friendly relations and mutual understanding between Viet Nam and South Korea in general. The two sides agreed to promote diverse exchanges and cooperation in tourism and culture, and at the same time carry out people-to-people exchange programmes.

Immediately after the signing ceremony, the Son Tra District issued a plan to concretise the cooperation agreement between the two sides. Specifically, in early 2025, the coastal district will install a symbol of cooperation between the two localities at the park east of Nguyen Van Troi Bridge. At the same time, the delegation of the district will attend the Gurye Sansuyu Festival in Gurye District to exchange experience in developing local tourism associated with environmental protection.

It is known that Gurye District has 25 farms in need of seasonal labour. Based on the need, Son Tra District will recruit seasonal labour for these farms.

Aside from Hai Chau and Son Tra districts, Cam Le District is currently also surveying, learning and expanding cooperation with localities in South Korea. Recently, the working delegation of the district visited and worked with Jeonju City, Muju District and Jangsu District, both in Jeonbuk Province, South Korea.

On the occasion, Cam Le District and Muju District are studying and promoting the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on establishing friendly relations and cooperation in the future.

Maintaining and developing friendly relations between Da Nang and foreign localities have significantly contributed to promoting the image of the city in other foreign countries. This is also one of the starting points for foreign investors to consider and decide on business orientations in Da Nang, thereby helping the city effectively carry out the "Diplomacy serving the economy" work.

Success from cooperation programmes

2017 was the first year that the People's Committee of Hoa Vang District signed a cooperation agreement with Yeongyang District, Gyeongsangbuk Province, South Korea, on seasonal labour exchange in the agricultural sector.

Permanent Vice Chairman of the Hoa Vang District People's Committee Nguyen Thuc Dung said that the district People's Committee issues a plan every year to select agricultural workers under the temporary labor programme to work in Yeongyang District.

Since 2017, the district has selected and sent nearly 1,871 farmers to work in South Korea. Most of the workers are excited to work overseas because they can learn agricultural production experience and have quite high incomes. The total income of workers in the district is more than VND255 billion. This is considered one of the breakthrough solutions in job creation and increasing income for people, thereby contributing to the effective implementation of social security policies, especially for agricultural workers living in production land areas affected by the city’s projects.

Moreover, the two sides expanded cooperation in the field of education. With the connection of Yeongyang District, South Korea’s Saemaul Globalization Foundation supported the implementation of the 'Thai Lai - Saemaul New-Style Rural Village' project in Hoa Nhon Commune, Hoa Vang District.

After 7 years of implementation, the People's Committee of Hoa Vang District has effectively implemented the policy of sending workers to work seasonally in South Korea, and was evaluated by the Department of Overseas Labor Management under the Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs as one of 19 provinces and cities that well implemented the policy and was awarded a Certificate of Merit in 2019.

Most recently, Hoa Vang District in Da Nang has signed a letter of intent on promoting the establishment of friendly and cooperative relations with Bonghwa District in Gyeongsangbuk Province, South Korea.

Accordingly, the two sides have agreed to promote the establishment of the friendly and cooperative relations on the principles of voluntariness, equality, and compliance with the laws of each country, as well as jointly promote development and cooperation in the fields of economy, culture, arts, sports, tourism, agriculture and education. The two sides have facilitated the exchange of delegations at all levels and actively encourage cooperation between relevant agencies and civil organisations.

On the occasion, the two localities have entered into a cooperation agreement on sending and receiving seasonal workers with the aim of supporting each other in economic fields and promoting cooperation programmes on technical and human resource exchange in the agricultural sector. In particular, the focus is on sending labourers from Hoa Vang District to work seasonally in Bonghwa District.

A successful foreign affairs programme will facilitate and help Da Nang promote investment, trade and tourism promotion activities. At the same time, the city can seek both material and spiritual support to complete socio-economic development goals. Thanks to this, the image of Da Nang will be widely and effectively promoted to international friends, thereby affirming its position on the global map.

Reporting by THANH PHUONG - Translating by M.DUNG