Enhancing the status and image of Bac Giang

In 2023, Bac Giang province's foreign affairs work yielded practical results, contributing to enhancing the province's position and image as a dynamic and innovative province, attracting resources for economic development to successfully achieve local socio-economic goals.

Provincial Party Secretary Duong Van Thai speaks at the roundtable discussion connecting US businesses and Vietnamese localities.

A bright spot in foreign relations.

Bac Giang is becoming a center for industrial production, with many basic socio -economic indicators ranking in the top 10 nationwide. In 2022, the province's economic growth rate (GRDP) reached 19.3% (nearly 2.5 times the national average), the highest ever. The province's GRDP in 2023 is estimated at 13.45%, expected to be the highest in the country, with an estimated GRDP per capita of US$3,950. Total import and export turnover in 2023 is estimated at US$52.4 billion, an increase of 20.9% compared to 2022. Foreign direct investment (FDI) attraction consistently ranks among the top 12 provinces and cities nationwide. As of mid-November 2023, the province had attracted over US$3 billion in converted investment capital, three times higher than the same period last year, the highest ever. Currently, the province has 551 active FDI projects from investors from over 30 countries and territories, with a total registered capital of over US$10.8 billion. The achievements in the province's socio-economic development are significantly contributed by its foreign affairs work. The unified management of foreign affairs activities has been implemented seriously and effectively, and international integration has been carried out synchronously across all sectors.

The Bac Giang Provincial Delegation attended the 2nd Overseas Vietnamese Economic Forum, connecting local cooperation between Vietnamese and Kyushu businesses in Japan.

The province has effectively implemented its Party's foreign affairs work, closely and synchronously integrating it with state diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy. Through plans and documents on foreign affairs, the Provincial Party Committee has focused on leading the expansion of foreign relations and cooperation with organizations and businesses, and gradually establishing cooperative relationships with some foreign localities; actively participating in foreign affairs activities organized by central ministries and agencies to promote and introduce the province's potential and strengths, and to call for cooperation and investment, thereby promoting the province's socio-economic development. During the year, provincial leaders participated in high-level delegations of Party and State leaders, such as: the President attending the Asia- Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) High-Level Week in the United States; and the Standing Vice Chairman of the National Assembly working in Belgium, Portugal, and the European Parliament. Notably, at the roundtable discussion connecting US businesses and Vietnamese localities, Comrade Duong Van Thai, Member of the Central Committee of the Party and Secretary of the Bac Giang Provincial Party Committee, attended and spoke at the program. In addition, the province organized delegations to promote investment and trade, and participated in international conferences, exhibitions, and economic forums in China, Japan, and South Korea.

Leaders of Bac Giang province and Nanning city (China) signed a cooperation agreement.

Provincial leaders welcomed numerous delegations visiting and working in the province; received several business delegations for investment surveys, notably the delegations of the Ambassadors of China and South Korea to Vietnam; representatives of the embassies of several European countries in Vietnam; representatives from several localities in China and South Korea; the high-level delegation of the National Council of the Cambodian Fatherland Front for Solidarity and Development; leaders of Xaysomboun province, Laos; the European Business Association; the Vietnam-Korea Business and Investment Association; the Indian Business Association, etc.

Furthermore, the province coordinated with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to organize a seminar on new trends in the global economy and their impact on production, export, and investment in some northern localities; participated in several international conferences and seminars organized by central ministries and agencies, such as: the 12th Conference on Cooperation between Vietnamese and French Localities; the "Meeting Korea" Conference; the Government's online conference on implementing economic diplomacy; the seminar "UKVFTA Agreement - Green and Fair Trade with Vietnam"; the Kansai Meeting 2023 and the Meeting Japan. Through the diplomatic activities of the province's leaders at domestic and international events, the image and position of Bac Giang province as a province with great development potential, a safe and successful destination for investment and business, has become known to international friends, contributing to promoting international friendly cooperation and boosting the export of agricultural products. Increase the attraction of foreign resources and capital to develop the province's socio-economic development.

Transportation infrastructure in industrial zones within the province.

Strengthening local cooperation

Implementing the Project to Promote International Cooperation at the Local Level with Foreign Localities in Bac Giang Province for the period 2021-2025, the province established the Steering Committee for International Cooperation at the Local Level and Overseas Vietnamese Affairs of Bac Giang Province for the period 2021-2030. In 2023, the People's Committee of Bac Giang Province signed a Memorandum of Understanding establishing a mechanism for government-to-government cooperation with Nanning City, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China. District-level agencies signed three district-level cooperation agreements with foreign localities. Notably, economic diplomacy associated with investment and trade promotion in the province has seen many innovations and creative approaches through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen cooperation in the economic and trade fields between specialized agencies of the province and China, aiming to facilitate customs clearance and export of lychees through border crossings between China and Vietnamese provinces. Exchanges were held with US business delegations and the Vietnamese Trade Office in the US to develop markets and promote the export of fresh lychees from the province to the US market. To build and connect the overseas community of Bac Giang people, with the support of the Department of Foreign Affairs, the Bac Giang Hometown Association in South Korea and Japan was established. At the same time, provincial agencies strengthened connections with overseas Vietnamese associations and organizations to introduce and support the consumption of the province's agricultural products abroad. Currently, the province has 9 provincial-level bilateral friendship associations and 64 district-level member associations and branches, with a total of over 6,000 members participating in activities at all levels.

A view of the Bac Giang Provincial Industrial Park.

Spreading the image of Bac Giang

In the context of increasingly deep international economic integration, Bac Giang province identifies foreign relations as one of its priorities. In the coming period, the province will continue to promote investment activities, attract foreign direct investment; and mobilize official development assistance (ODA) within the province. It will create a stable business environment, improve the investment environment, and diversify investment attraction methods. It will develop export markets by strengthening trade promotion activities in potential countries and seeking markets for the province's key products. It will boost export production, making maximum use of mechanisms and policies to facilitate exports. The province will continue to seek, connect, and exchange with foreign localities to promote the establishment of cooperative relationships with Bac Giang province, focusing on localities in countries with economic cooperation, similar cultural characteristics, and complementary strengths, such as Japan, South Korea, and China.

Manufacturing electronic devices at a company located in an industrial park in Bac Giang.

Furthermore, Bac Giang will proactively innovate in cultural diplomacy and external information; promote the culture, image, and people of Bac Giang through central and local newspapers, radio, and magazines, and in domestic and international diplomatic events. It will strengthen people-to-people diplomacy; consolidate the activities of bilateral friendship associations and liaison committees of Bac Giang people abroad. At the same time, it will maintain connections and encourage Bac Giang expatriate associations in various countries and overseas Vietnamese communities to introduce and sell the province's products overseas. With the determination of local government leaders in achieving socio-economic goals and through diplomatic activities, the image and position of Bac Giang as a province with great development potential, a safe and successful destination for investment and business, has become known to international friends. This contributes to promoting international cooperation and friendship, boosting exports, and attracting investment for socio-economic development.

Manufacturing electronic devices at a company located in an industrial park in Bac Giang.

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