Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Loc Ha presents a discussion on "Perfecting the operational mechanism of the foreign affairs apparatus in a megacity: Decentralisation, delegation, and unified management of foreign affairs". (Photo: Nguyen Nhuan)

On August 2, at the 22nd Foreign Affairs Conference, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Loc Ha presented a discussion on "Perfecting the operational mechanism of the foreign affairs apparatus in a mega city: Decentralisation, delegation, and unified management of foreign affairs."

Foreign affairs and international integration – A direct development driver

According to Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha, from July 1, 2025, after completing the arrangement of provincial-level administrative units, Ho Chi Minh City has entered a new phase of development, with the scale, stature, and position of a megacity – serving as the economic, financial, technological, innovative, and key international integration centre of the country.

The large economic scale and strong comprehensive potential have created exceptional advantages, opening new spaces for the City in foreign affairs and international cooperation, thereby achieving many breakthroughs in recent times.

To date, Ho Chi Minh City has established a network of friendly cooperation with 88 foreign localities and nearly 20 international partner organisations; many cooperation agreements have been concretised into implementation plans and realised into substantive projects.

Foreign affairs and international integration are increasingly emerging as direct drivers of development in Ho Chi Minh City. In the first six months of this year, the City's total import-export turnover exceeded 100 billion USD; attracted over 7.5 billion USD in foreign direct investment, including major projects in science and technology, innovation; the number of international visitors to the City reached nearly 6.5 million; the International Financial Center in Ho Chi Minh City, after its establishment, rose 11 places in the GFCI 2026 rankings, entering the group of 15 promising global financial centers.

However, according to Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Loc Ha, in the new context and situation, with important tasks set for the City in the new development era, the foreign affairs and international integration work of a mega city and economic locomotive like Ho Chi Minh City also faces increasingly higher demands, more diverse and complex nature, and a more comprehensive and profound scope.

To meet these demands, Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha stated that the City needs to continuously build an effective, efficient foreign affairs apparatus; consolidate a unified, centralised foreign affairs coordination and management mechanism; and maintain tight, seamless coordination mechanisms both horizontally and vertically, internally and externally.

From the practical implementation of local foreign affairs in recent times, Ho Chi Minh City has identified several institutional bottlenecks that need to be resolved promptly. Specifically:

Firstly, vertical and inter-sectoral coordination lacks harmony and synchronisation, with many layers in the process, leading to delays in implementing foreign affairs activities that span multiple fields.

Secondly, the level of decentralisation and delegation in some stages (such as outgoing and incoming delegations, signing international agreements) does not meet practical needs and is not compatible with the scale and nature of a special city, holding a leading role and pioneering mission like Ho Chi Minh City.

Thirdly, the comprehensive resources allocated to foreign affairs and international integration remain limited, and the budget for implementing political, economic, cultural, and science and technology diplomacy activities, training, and fostering foreign affairs personnel still does not meet the needs and tasks in the new phase.

Representatives of foreign consular agencies experience the cultural and historical depth of Ho Chi Minh City step by step. (Source: Ho Chi Minh City Department of Foreign Affairs)

Elevating local foreign affairs, effectively mobilising international resources

Recently, our Party and State have proposed many strategic decisions, issuing many special mechanisms and policies for the country's foreign affairs and international integration, as well as for the development of Ho Chi Minh City: Resolution 06 of the Politburo on implementing the foreign policy of the 14th Party Congress; Resolution 09 of the Politburo on building and developing Ho Chi Minh City in the new era; Resolution No. 250 dated December 10, 2025, of the National Assembly and Decree No. 258 dated June 30, 2026, of the Government on mechanisms and policies to mobilize resources to enhance the effectiveness of international integration.

"In the coming time, the Party Committee, Government, and all levels and sectors of Ho Chi Minh City will vigorously implement and maximise opportunities from the Central Government's breakthrough mechanisms and policies, elevate local foreign affairs, and effectively mobilise international resources to serve the sustainable development of the City," Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha affirmed.

In this process, the Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee stated that promoting decentralisation, delegation, linking authority with responsibility, and strengthening unified management of foreign affairs activities is an objective requirement and an essential task to enhance the effectiveness and efficiency of the foreign affairs apparatus, establishing a smooth and effective operational mechanism. Some key solutions of the city named after Uncle Ho are:

Firstly, researching to further decentralize the authority of the Standing Committee of the City Party Committee, the Standing Member of the Secretariat, the Deputy Secretaries of the City Party Committee; the Standing Members of the People's Committee, the Standing Members of the People's Council, the Standing Members of the City Fatherland Front Committee in approving and directing the implementation of annual foreign affairs programs and plans, outgoing/incoming delegations, and international cooperation within their jurisdiction.

Secondly, perfecting the coordination mechanism towards clear processes, clear focal points, clear authority, clear responsibility; more clearly defining the groups of tasks under the Central Government's decision-making authority; the group of tasks where the Central Government decides the policy, the local government organizes the implementation; the group of tasks where the local government is allowed to make decisions and report; the group of tasks requiring inter-sectoral consultation; the group of tasks requiring urgent handling or having sensitive elements.

Thirdly, strongly innovating the method of evaluating effectiveness, gradually applying the Key Performance Indicator (KPI) system in the field of foreign affairs and international integration. Strengthening inspection and supervision, especially post-inspection work, enhancing accountability and discipline in implementing foreign affairs activities in the area.

Fourthly, enhancing training and in-depth education for local foreign affairs personnel, not only in foreign language proficiency, diplomatic protocol skills, but also in research, analysis, policy advisory capabilities, negotiation experience, diplomatic situation handling, and updated knowledge on international politics and economics.

Quoting President Ho Chi Minh – Vietnam's first Foreign Minister: “Strength is the gong, diplomacy is the sound. The bigger the gong, the louder the sound”, Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee affirmed that the internal strength of each locality is the foundation of a country's strength; the foreign affairs of each locality is an important component of the nation's comprehensive foreign affairs.

Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee Nguyen Loc Ha affirmed: "In the new era of foreign affairs and international integration, based on closely following the Party's line, the State's legal policies, and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs' professional guidance, Ho Chi Minh City is ready to play the role of a leading locality, serving as a model and pioneering in piloting new models, breakthrough mechanisms, thorough decentralization, and delegation, creating institutions, elevating local foreign affairs to effectively mobilize international resources, contributing to realizing the aspiration for prosperous and happy development".