Waiting for upgrading Hoi An foreign affairs center

Japanese Crown Prince and Princess visit Hoi An ancient town in 2023. Photo: QT

Although not a provincial capital, since the re-establishment of the province, most diplomatic events or international heads of state and politicians visiting and working in Quang Nam often take place in Hoi An due to its status as an international cultural heritage city.

Hoi An's role as a foreign affairs center has been further demonstrated in recent years with continuous important visits and working visits of international partners in Hoi An such as: Prime Minister of Bulgaria (2014), Prime Minister of Lao PDR (2015), Chairman of the National Assembly of China (2016); a series of wives of heads of state and politicians attending APEC 2017; Prime Minister of Japan (2017), Crown Prince and Princess of Japan (2023)...

Mr. Tran Anh - Secretary of the City Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Hoi An City said that although it is a place often chosen to welcome heads of state, high-ranking delegations, diplomatic delegations, embassies of countries... to visit and work, the related conditions for Hoi An to best serve this work are still inadequate, mainly taking advantage of "homegrown products".

Hoi An's concerns lie not only in the budget and funding issues, but also in the reception and entertainment venues that are not commensurate, do not meet diplomatic standards, or the reception staff is limited in terms of expertise, professionalism, and skills...

Therefore, according to the leader of Hoi An City People's Committee, the orientation of Hoi An to become the foreign affairs center of the province is also suitable and aims to realize the general goal of "Continuing to maintain the role as the center of cultural exchange, foreign affairs, and the city of events - festivals of the province" established in Resolution 31 of the Provincial Party Committee on building and developing Hoi An city in the direction of an ecological - cultural - tourist city by 2030.

The fact that Quang Nam is considering the policy of developing Hoi An into a foreign relations center of the province is not only politically significant, because with the characteristics of being a cultural and tourism center of the region and the whole country, Hoi An and Quang Nam will also benefit if they have the conditions to organize modern festivals and large-scale cultural and tourism events.

Mr. Nguyen Thanh Hong - Director of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism said that in fact, Hoi An has become the foreign affairs center of the province but the infrastructure has not yet met the requirements. The Department has worked with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism to conduct surveys many times in Hoi An to organize international fairs but unfortunately, the conditions are not met.

If possible, a multi-functional center should be established in Hoi An to organize conferences, seminars, and international tourism fairs. At the same time, this center can also take on the function of displaying Quang Nam's typical products to enhance promotion, advertising, and foreign affairs.

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