As the nation's capital and a key political, economic, and cultural hub, Hanoi shoulders a prominent role in foreign diplomacy.

“Hanoi functions as both the "face" and an "extension" of central-level diplomacy, which explains the growing importance of its foreign policy efforts  and  the high expectations placed on the city.”

Chairman of the Hanoi People's Committee Tran Sy Thanh at the meeting. Photos: Viet Anh/The Hanoi Times

Chairman of the Hanoi People’s Committee Tran Sy Thanh made remarks at a conference held on January 15 by the municipal Department of Foreign Affairs to discuss the agenda for 2025 for foreign affairs.

The Mayor highlighted Hanoi's recent achievements in the Hanoi foreign service, including hosting international events, welcoming global visitors, and expanding international partnerships.

Despite these successes, challenges remain, such as limited coordination among agencies, ineffective activities, and insufficient resources. “Addressing these challenges requires strong leadership, improved collaboration, and appropriate resource allocation,” Thanh said.

He also emphasized that the responsibility for foreign affairs extends beyond official agencies and involves all levels from leadership to citizens. "Every citizen must contribute to the diplomatic efforts as the city transforms—this is a collective responsibility," he noted.

At the conference, the Director of Hanoi’s Department of Foreign Affairs Ngo Minh Hoang highlighted that in 2024, Hanoi pursued a comprehensive foreign policy based on three pillars: Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy.

Overview of the event.

“Hanoi hosted 65 international delegations, signed eight cooperation agreements—most notably with Kanagawa Prefecture (Japan) and Gyeonggi Province (South Korea)—and established partnerships with Ulaanbaatar (Mongolia) and Fukuoka City (Japan)," Hoang noted.

Cultural events such as the Balade en France Festival, French Culture Day, Korean Road, Taste of Australia, and Oktoberfest were held throughout the year.

According to Hoang, however, challenges included global economic impacts on foreign investments, uneven awareness of foreign affairs' importance, a lack of quality human resources, and progress in digital transformation lagging behind the city’s potential.

Looking ahead to 2025, she suggested strengthening bilateral and multilateral relations, enhancing economic integration, innovating cultural diplomacy, expanding science and technology cooperation, and fostering people-to-people diplomacy as priorities.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang.

Her recommendations included stronger guidance from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, improved legal frameworks, personnel training, and resource support for districts in diplomatic efforts.

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Le Thi Thu Hang commended Hanoi's effective coordination with the ministry in 2024, hosting high-level international exchanges that bolstered Vietnam’s global profile. Beyond cultural diplomacy, Hanoi prioritized heritage preservation and promotion.

Looking ahead, Hanoi will be celebrating major events such as the 80th National Day and key anniversaries with international partners in 2025. These require thorough preparation and close collaboration with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

The ministry reiterated its commitment to assisting Hanoi in foreign affairs in line with Party and State policies, providing information, and fostering cooperation in trade, investment, science, technology, culture, and tourism, said Hang.