Hosting international events, Vietnam is capable!

Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh

Recently, Vietnam has had a series of plans and official or unofficial proposals to host important international events, such as hosting the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum in 2027; co-hosting the World Cup in 2034; and hosting a United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP) in the future. There are also many suggestions that Vietnam can be more proactive and flexible in inviting world-famous bands and singers to perform. In the region, these days, young people in Southeast Asia in particular and Asia in general are going crazy over the tour of American singer Taylor Swift in Singapore. Thailand also wanted to invite the singer, but Singapore won the exclusive rights with an offer, according to media reports, of up to US$3 million (S$4 million) for each performance and in return Taylor Swift agreed not to perform anywhere else in Southeast Asia. Singaporean officials believe that Taylor Swift's performances could bring great benefits to the country's economy, especially the tourism sector. Singapore has just held an international air show (Airshow) with the participation of more than 1,000 companies from 50 countries. This is an aviation event held every two years, the largest in Asia and the third largest in the world, after the Le Bourget exhibition in France and Farnborough in the UK. The Shangri-La Dialogue - also known as the Asia Regional Security Summit - will take place in Singapore at the end of May. The Shangri-La Dialogue is held annually, attracting a large number of researchers and defense and security officials from many countries around the world.

Does Vietnam have the capacity to host important international events?

Returning to the issue raised at the beginning of the article, the question is whether Vietnam has the capacity to organize important international events or not? As an individual and with experience working in the field of foreign affairs, I would like to boldly answer: Yes! In recent years, Vietnam has not only participated in many major international events in the world but also hosted many important regional and international conferences in various fields.

The escort team of the Hanoi Police Guard Command and Traffic Police escorted General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping and his wife along with a delegation of high-ranking Chinese leaders on the streets of Hanoi during his official visit to Vietnam in December 2023 (Photo: Tien Tuan)

Examples include the 2017 APEC Summit; the US-North Korea Summit with the participation of the two leaders Donald Trump - Kim Jong Un in 2019. For example, with the US-North Korea Summit, many questions have been raised such as, why was Vietnam chosen and not elsewhere? Before choosing Vietnam, there were a number of names mentioned, but the choice of Hanoi has certain implications. First of all, Vietnam certainly has the conditions to organize logistics such as high-standard hotels, transportation, convenient for both air and train passengers; then security conditions; conditions for service personnel. In particular, Vietnam also has enough conditions in terms of reliability of international relations. Obviously, although the US and North Korea have differences and confrontations with each other, Vietnam is a destination that both countries see as a reliable partner. Third is the stability and security of Vietnam. For such sensitive high-level meetings, ensuring security is very important. Fourth, Vietnam is a story that both sides can learn from. Vietnam and the United States once fought a war and were enemies before going through a reconciliation process to become partners. Vietnam is also a country that has gone through war and then achieved peace; from centralization, bureaucracy and subsidies, it has moved to innovation and still maintained the chosen political system, while promoting development and international integration. Perhaps both sides see these things and whether they say it or not, there are messages that can be learned from. When the conference took place, we did very well, not only in organizing, ensuring security, hotel conditions, reception and logistics, etc., but also creating conditions for the two partners to consult with the utmost safety, confidentiality and trust. In addition, it is necessary to ensure safety and working conditions for nearly 3,000 international reporters attending to report. The host country's work is not only for the two high-ranking delegations but also for the press, it is an opportunity for the world to see a renewed, peaceful, integrated, and developed Vietnam, a Vietnam with a rich cultural history, very beautiful and hospitable. I remember that at that event there were also culinary sessions, creating conditions for foreign reporters to come into contact with traditional Vietnamese specialties. It can be affirmed that after 3, 4 decades of innovation and integration, our capacity to organize and operate international activities has been very complete and mature, from physical facilities to transportation conditions, means of transportation, the ability to organize, operate, ensure security and safety. With the US-North Korea Summit, I remember that we were only notified 10 days in advance and had to prepare many factors at the same time to meet the requirements of two large delegations, with strict requirements. This shows that the country's capacity can be mobilized quickly and promptly at the same time, meeting requirements at the international level.

"Not only ready in terms of facilities, but also participating in running the conference"

I also recall the past when we hosted a major international event in 1997, the Francophone Summit . This was probably the first major event held in Vietnam after the country's reunification and opening up for integration. At that time, although it had been more than 10 years of renovation, our country still had many difficulties and needed to prepare, such as not having a facility large enough to handle a major international conference. At that time, the French side helped and we had the International Conference Center to promptly organize and the Conference was successful. Hosting a major international conference is not only about the facilities, we also participate in the management, consultation, agenda building, scenarios, draft statements, and action programs. After the success of the Francophone Summit in 1997, in 1998, Vietnam hosted an ASEAN Summit for the first time, just 3 years after Vietnam joined ASEAN. Next was the ASEAN Summit in 2010 , at which time our organizational capacity had improved significantly. Why do we need to mention this event? The ASEAN Summit in 2010 in Vietnam was actually the first summit to put the Charter and the new ASEAN apparatus into operation and into practical life. Instead of ASEAN previously focusing only on a series of mid-year ministerial conferences, since 2010, ASEAN has had a new apparatus, including summits, ministerial councils, councils on the three pillars of the community, the ASEAN Coordinating Council, and other levels. For the first time, under the Charter, the Chair country must organize and preside over ASEAN activities throughout the year, including two series of summits, a series of ministerial meetings and other meetings at different levels. The organization model and arrangement of meetings throughout the year have become established and are basically similar to the way Vietnam initiated it back then, in 2010.

Opening of the ASEAN Senior Officials' Meeting on January 13, 2010 in Da Nang (Photo: Archive).

I was fortunate to be one of the people directly involved in the series of events in 2010. It is true that when ASEAN switched to a new model and became the chair for the whole year, the work multiplied. Looking back at 2010, there were more than 150 events, including two series of summits: Summit 1 in April was only ASEAN, but Summit 2 in October was a series of summits, including ASEAN, the East Asia Summit, ASEAN + 3 and a number of ASEAN + 1 summits with each partner. In the whole year of 2010, we had to mobilize 20,000 people to serve; more than 1,000 vehicles; and about 1,400-1,500 domestic and foreign press people participated. Another difficulty was the management and coordination for a year. First of all, we had to come up with a consistent theme for the whole year, both expressing the commonality of ASEAN and showing the focus of Vietnam's desire. That year, we took the theme: ASEAN from vision to action, which was the most concerned and closest thing, with the implication of the determination to bring the ASEAN Charter and visions on community building into life and practical activities. That was a year when Vietnam was the chair and was highly appreciated by ASEAN friends and partners, with the marks of a dynamic and responsible chair for the region. There were indeed many highlights at that time, but I would like to mention only two stories here: First, it was the coordination to reach consensus on expanding the East Asia Summit and admitting Russia and the US as members - This was an important decision not only for ASEAN but also for the whole region. Accordingly, the East Asia Summit, an ASEAN mechanism, has gathered all of ASEAN's leading partners, now including the US and Russia, along with the 6 existing partners: China, Japan, South Korea, India, Australia, New Zealand, thereby becoming an important mechanism in the common regional structure. Second, it is the realization and launch of the ADMM+ mechanism, a new mechanism of ASEAN - the ASEAN Defense Ministers' Meeting and key partners. This is an idea that has existed for a long time in ASEAN, but to put it into practice, there are still many difficulties, especially in the context of complex competition between major countries. We have prepared and actively consulted very early, including within ASEAN and with partners to be able to reach a common consensus and officially organize the first ADMM+ conference in 2010 and for the first time ASEAN has a regional mechanism of ASEAN Defense Ministers and the most key partners. Thus, in addition to the stages of organization, logistics, security, and protocol, we also chair the content, coordinate regional mechanisms, as well as connect with partners, thereby promoting joint cooperation efforts and truly contributing to the environment of peace, stability and development cooperation in Southeast Asia and more broadly, Asia - Pacific. Recently, we must certainly mention the APEC Summit in Da Nang - That was a great mark of Vietnam. Coordination at that time was very difficult, due to the complicated general context, competition between major countries, increasing trade protectionism, and many conflicts and difficulties in the world's economic and trade relations. However, Vietnam succeeded, due to its dynamism and position, the conference was successful in both content and organization and management. In particular, all senior leaders of major economies attended, including US President Donald Trump, Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Putin, and a common action program was issued. The APEC-Da Nang Summit Statement 2017 is the basis for orienting regional cooperation in the new context with many complications, facilitating the promotion of regional economic and trade cooperation processes, as well as the role of APEC and WTO. It should also be noted that the APEC summit the following year failed to issue a joint statement due to disagreements among members, especially among major economies. We can say more about the combination of multilateral and bilateral. Also in that year, President Donald Trump not only attended the APEC summit in Da Nang but also flew to Hanoi to make a high-level visit to Vietnam, which was very special, in his first trip to Asia-Pacific and with a very tight schedule when visiting 5 countries at the same time.

"Vietnam is capable of hosting the World Cup in the future"

In short, hosting international conferences is not only a specific story of protocol and logistics, but also a story of content, coordination ability, demonstrating Vietnam's position, along with messages about politics, economics, culture, and foreign affairs with the region and the world. I would also like to mention Vietnam's staff, which has matured a lot over time, becoming more professional and fully capable of undertaking major foreign affairs events. Our country is increasingly developing and has a position internationally and in the region. This is also the time when we can think more broadly about choosing and proactively hosting international activities and events of even greater magnitude, not only in foreign affairs but also expanding in other areas such as economics, culture, society, and tourism. Recently, many famous people have come to Vietnam, which is also a meaningful highlight. In the technology field, billionaire Jensen Huang - CEO of Nvidia recently visited Vietnam, attracting the attention of investors, businesses, and technology from the US and other countries to a Vietnam that is strongly transforming in terms of innovation and the Vietnam-US relationship has been upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Or like Blackpink coming to a show in Hanoi in 2023 also created a huge spread about Vietnam. Or the fact that famous filmmakers choose Vietnam as a filming location and studio also contributes to promoting the image of the country and its people. When I say the possibility that "Vietnam is capable of hosting the World Cup in the future", I mean an expectation, using a specific image to compare. ASEAN also has the idea of ​​hosting such a World Cup. A Vietnam with a position, a capacity base and accumulated experience, in the coming years, we can proactively host such events. So, the implication is "why not?". We need to choose and proactively host events that create resonance, are worthy, and contribute to national interests and status. Furthermore, if we observe carefully, we can see that many countries have built their own brands through proposing initiatives and organizing major events at the international and regional levels. For example, the Munich Security Conference (Germany), the Boao Forum (China), the Davos Conference - the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) held in Davos (Switzerland) - where national policymakers and major business leaders discuss the economy at the beginning of the year. Or the Shangrila Dialogue, the name of a hotel but associated with a leading regional security forum that Singapore has established. At some point, Vietnam also needs to build a Vietnamese brand with such an initiative, a forum, a mechanism, or a process named Vietnam, which is of interest to the world and the region. As mentioned above, we also need to take advantage of and expand more, in areas such as culture - art (music, painting, film, tourism ...), or technology, creativity ... is also a new field of great interest. These are also activities that directly serve the economic and social development of the country. To do that, it depends not only on the Government but also on social organizations, professional associations, and business associations. Vingroup's creation of the VinFuture Award is also a welcome example. Or the fact that we could have had a Formula 1 race, if there was no Covid epidemic. Thus, associations and businesses with potential and capability need to get involved and be more active in coming up with initiatives and organizing major events in many fields from technology, economics to culture, arts, entertainment, etc. to promote cultural exchange, promote tourism, thereby promoting their position and contributing to the socio-economic development of the country.

Author: Mr. Pham Quang Vinh is the former Vietnamese Ambassador to the US and former Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs. Mr. Vinh served as Head of the ASEAN-Vietnam Senior Officials' Meeting for 7 years.

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