Promoting strengths to enhance local position in foreign affairs

Identifying the province's strengths as cultural and natural heritage, in recent years, Ninh Binh has promoted foreign affairs activities, especially in cultural and economic diplomacy , contributing to promoting the image and people of Vietnam in general, Ninh Binh province in particular to international friends; introducing the province's potentials, strengths, and investment environment, making an important contribution to local socio-economic development.

The conservation of the World Cultural and Natural Heritage Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex has become a bridge connecting countries around the world. Photo: Nguyen Thom

At the Celebration of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex 10 years since its inscription by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage, Ms. Simona Mirela Miculescu, President of the 42nd UNESCO General Conference, said: In an era of rapid global change, when social upheavals and different interests often make us feel lost, partnerships to protect Trang An become a bridge, promoting dialogue and understanding between social communities and people around the world.

The work of preserving, managing and promoting the global values of world heritage has been implemented synchronously and systematically by Ninh Binh in accordance with UNESCO's recommendations and has been assessed by the UNESCO Director General: Trang An is an exemplary and typical model in the world in promoting the global values of World Heritage, harmoniously combining environmental preservation, preserving traditional cultural values with economic tourism development, ensuring the interests of people, businesses and the State.

The above assessments and comments of experts can show that Ninh Binh has been successful in promoting the strengths of the locality to enhance the position, image and people of Ninh Binh in foreign affairs, especially cultural foreign affairs. At the same time, it shows that foreign affairs in Ninh Binh plays an important role in attracting resources for development; contributing to promoting the image of the homeland and country to international friends. Therefore, promoting foreign affairs is a task being set for each locality and unit, in order to contribute to enhancing the prestige and position of the province in the context of deep integration today.

Based on the orientation, direction and management of the Central Government, Ninh Binh province has issued many directive and management documents to uniformly and closely manage foreign affairs activities in the area. Especially through cultural and tourism activities, Ninh Binh has affirmed its position in the international arena, especially in the fields of international cooperation in conservation, exploitation of potential, strengths and cultural resources for tourism development. At the same time, gradually building the cultural industry, cultural foreign affairs work has been promoted by all levels and sectors of the province.

In particular, our province has organized many important events, promoting the image of nature, cultural values, history, and typical traditions of Ninh Binh province to many friends at home and abroad. Notably, the event of the 10th anniversary of Trang An Scenic Landscape Complex being recognized by UNESCO as a World Cultural and Natural Heritage. In addition, on the Electronic Information page (www.vhtt.ninhbinh.gov.vn), timely information is provided, introducing and promoting outstanding activities and events in the fields of culture, sports, politics, economy, culture - society, education of the province; promoting the potential and strengths in economic development, preserving national cultural identity, attracting investment, developing culture and sports; introducing the people and land of Ninh Binh to friends at home and abroad.

With the motto of developing green and sustainable tourism, up to now, Ninh Binh province tourism has become a bright spot on the Vietnam tourism map (in the top 15 destinations, 10 provinces with the highest number of visitors in the country), evaluated and voted by many prestigious international travel sites as an attractive, hospitable and most favorite tourist destination such as: Forbes magazine of the US voted as one of the 23 best tourist destinations in 2024; is one of the 10 friendliest destinations in the world at the Traveller Review Awards 2024 voted by Booking.com; The Travel Canada newspaper voted the top 10 most beautiful destinations in Vietnam; Cuc Phuong National Park was voted and honored by the World Travel Awards as the leading National Park in Asia for 4 consecutive years.

Through cultural diplomacy activities, the position of Ninh Binh province has been gradually raised, and investment and export promotion activities have also been expanded. Investment promotion activities have been effectively implemented by competent agencies, achieving many positive results. In the first 6 months of 2024, the Provincial People's Committee granted Investment Registration Certificates to 4 FDI projects with a total registered investment capital of 31.39 million USD with investors mainly from Korea and Hong Kong; investing in the fields of electronic components manufacturing, auto support industry...

Exports remain a bright spot in the economic picture for the first six months of 2024, with total export turnover estimated at 1,661.2 million USD, up 10.2% over the same period last year, reaching 51.1% of the yearly plan. Some items with large export values are: Cement and clinker estimated at 290 million USD; clothing of all kinds estimated at 150.6 million USD; cameras and phone components estimated at 406.1 million USD; other footwear estimated at 475.3 million USD; automobiles and automobile components estimated at 90 million USD.

In addition, with its potential, advantages and prestige, in recent years Ninh Binh has attracted diverse sources of investment capital to the province. Currently, the provincial authorities are managing and monitoring the implementation of 4 projects using ODA capital and preferential loans with a total investment capital of 1,673,796 million VND (including total ODA and preferential loans of 1,433,351 million VND and counterpart capital of 240,445 million VND). Up to now, 3 projects have been completed and handed over for use. The projects are being implemented well, in compliance with international and Vietnamese regulations, creating prestige and close relationships with donors. Ninh Binh province is also committed to managing official development assistance (ODA) and preferential loans closely and effectively according to investors' requirements.

In order for diplomacy to become a bridge to expand opportunities for socio-economic development, in the coming time, Ninh Binh will strengthen and expand relations with foreign provinces and cities, foreign organizations and international organizations; especially those provinces and cities that have established official twinning relationships to enhance cooperation, exchange and experience sharing in politics, economics, culture and society at the local level.

Strengthening investment, trade, tourism promotion activities and cultural, artistic and sports activities with foreign elements to enhance friendly exchanges and promote traditional cultural values, the land and people of Ninh Binh. Supporting investment enterprises, expanding export markets, cooperating with foreign partners, taking advantage of free trade agreements that Vietnam has participated in. Proactively developing programs and projects to call for investment from ODA and FDI capital sources and calling for funding from foreign non-governmental organizations, contributing to hunger eradication, poverty reduction, and improving the quality of life of people in the province.

Nguyen Thom