Lai Chau (VNA) – For years, the northern border province of Lai Chau has consistently identified the maintenance and expansion of the friendship and cooperation with priority partners, traditional friends as well as foreign diplomatic missions in Vietnam and international organisations as a central pillar of its external relations.
Accordingly, the province has effectively implemented the Party’s foreign policy, based on three key pillars – Party-to-Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy. These efforts have been closely linked with the province’s political, diplomatic and socio-economic development objectives.
Building on longstanding the traditional friendship with localities in China’s Yunnan province and Laos' northern provinces, Lai Chau has now developed a diversified foreign relations network.
The province has participated in diplomatic activities, sought new partners, and strengthened cooperation with embassies, foreign business associations, enterprises, non-governmental organisations and international cooperation agencies in Vietnam.
These efforts have resulted in a series of important cooperation agreements, including five signed between Lai Chau and localities in the Republic of Korea (RoK) such as Mungyeong and Tongyeong cities, and Geumsan and Boseong districts. These agreements focus on high-tech agriculture, tourism, education and labour cooperation.
A notable example is the seasonal labour cooperation programme between Lai Chau and Mungyeong city in Gyeongsangbuk province. Under this programme, many Lai Chau residents have been able to work seasonally in agriculture in the RoK, earning between 25 and 40 million VND (1,520 USD) per month. This has created new opportunities for rural workers to escape poverty and improve their livelihoods.
Alongside expanding friendly relations, Lai Chau has also strengthened investment promotion and international trade connectivity. It became the first province in Vietnam to organise a promotion workshop targeting the Middle East, North Africa, and South Asia markets for its tea products, attracting more than 200 participants. The province’s flagship agricultural products have been showcased at domestic and international trade fairs to seek business partners and expand export markets.
International aid mobilisation has also been effective. Over the past five years, Lai Chau has received more than 226 billion VND in non-refundable grants from embassies, bilateral and multilateral funds, and foreign NGOs. These resources have supported healthcare, education, clean water, livelihoods and climate resilience projects, helping improve the lives of residents in remote and disadvantaged areas.
Soldiers of Huoi Luong Border Guard Station help residents in Phong Tho commune hang the national flag. (Photo: VNA)
The province has also attached importance to cultural diplomacy as an effective means to promote its image internationally.
Since 2020, five foreign media delegations have produced feature stories in Lai Chau, with coverage appearing on major channels such as HitRun (USA), KBS (RoK) and HBO (Spain). Regular cultural and art exchanges with Yunnan province and northern Lao provinces have further strengthened mutual understanding and friendship.
Kieu Hai Nam, Director of the provincial Department of External Affairs, affirmed that external relations are not only a bridge of friendship but also a driver of development. For a border province like Lai Chau, expanding international cooperation helps it attract resources, access technology and management experience, thereby contributing directly to economic growth, poverty reduction and social welfare.
Since 2020, the province has welcomed 536 delegations with nearly 3,700 international visitors for working sessions, surveys, investment promotion, and cultural and educational cooperation.
People-to-people diplomacy – the third pillar of external affairs – has also been emphasised. Through the provincial Union of Friendship Organisations, more than 30 exchange activities have connected Lai Chau residents with communities in China, Laos, Japan and the RoK. Border districts have also signed six twinning agreements with Yunnan province, maintaining peaceful and friendly relations along the border.
Over the past five years, external affairs have helped Lai Chau broaden markets, attract investment and strengthen its local brand. However, provincial authorities acknowledge that challenges remain, including difficult transport conditions, limited foreign language capacity, a modest number of FDI projects and aid that has yet to match provincial potential./.
