Imprints from foreign affairs

Binh Duong Province has just held a consular meeting of foreign consulates and agencies. The meeting is a special event to thank the support and the passionate feelings that international friends have for Binh Duong province in the past year; at the same time strengthening the friendship and cooperation with diplomatic missions, international economic and trade organizations, promoting foreign affairs to serve the cause of economic development - social of the province.

The provincial leaders took photos with representatives of diplomatic agencies before the new year of 2019. Photo: Quoc Chien

Many achievements

In 2018, Binh Duong Province achieved many good achievements in the field of foreign affairs with the successful organization of a series of events on an international scale. The province was honored to welcome many high-level international delegations, diplomatic corps, large economic groups and foreign business delegations to visit and work locally. Indeed, 2018 closed with excitement, proud of the great and comprehensive diplomatic achievements of Binh Duong province.

 Tran Thanh Liem, Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee said that in the context of globalization and international integration increasingly deep, now, Binh Duong has been trying to strengthen bilateral cooperation and multilateralism to promote more sustainable socio-economic development by concentrating resources to implement the "Smart City - Binh Duong" Project and Breakthrough Strategy "Binh Duong Navigator 2021 ".

In August 2016, Binh Duong Province officially became a member of the World Technopolis Association  (WTA). By October 2016, Binh Duong was the first province of Vietnam to officially become a member of the World Smart Community Forum (ICF) and was named one of 21 strategic cities and regions, developing the world's smartest city in 2019 (Smart 21).

In 2018, Binh Duong Province achieved many good achievements in foreign affairs. In particular, in the past year, Binh Duong province has successfully hosted 2 important international events, namely WTA Conference - Binh Duong 2018 and Horasis 2018. WTA - Binh Duong Conference 2018 is one of the most important foreign affairs activities of Binh Duong Province in 2018. With the theme "Smart City - Motivation for Innovation for Sustainable Development", WTA Conference - Binh Duong 2018 was held from 10-10 to 12-10-2018. At this event, Deputy Prime Minister Vu Duc Dam, leaders of ministries, central branches, provinces and cities and 450 international delegates from 27 countries and territories around the world attended the event conference.

Horasis 2018 is a foreign economic activity with practical meaning, a favorable opportunity for Binh Duong province to exchange, share and learn experiences as well as introduce potentials. ability, opportunities to attract foreign direct investment. The opening ceremony of the forum was held with the participation of Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung, leaders of ministries, central branches, provinces and cities of Vietnam and more than 350 senior leaders of economic corporations, multinational companies and large enterprises from 60 countries and territories around the world. Horasis Asian Economic Cooperation Forum 2018 was successfully organized with 4 plenary sessions and 35 sessions of thematic talks in parallel on 25 and 26 November 2016.

Diplomacy - the "kick-start" of development

Under the direction of the central government and with the spirit of solidarity, dynamism and creativity, Binh Duong province has overcome all difficulties and challenges, ensuring that the provincial economy continues to achieve high growth rates. and quite stable with most of the tasks, targets met and exceeded the plan. Specifically, the total product in the province (GRDP) increased by 8.68%; Per capita GRDP reached VND 130.8 million (equivalent to about US $ 5,600). Economic structure of the province: Industry accounts for 63.87%, services account for 23.94%, agriculture accounts for 3.08% and import tax minus product subsidies accounts for 9.11%; Export turnover reached US $ 25.28 billion, up 15.6% compared to 2017. In 2018, the province continued to trade surplus of US $ 4.7 billion.

The above results have proved that diplomacy is a "kick" for the sustainable "breakthrough" of the province. Speaking as Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee, Tran Thanh Liem, in the past year, with an open and attractive investment environment and a strong and timely leadership and direction of provincial leaders in concentrating resources to ensure the situation. political security and social order and safety; At the same time, focusing on implementing key foreign activities. Since then, in 2018 Binh Duong province continued to maintain its dynamic position in integration, attracting more investment resources to develop. As a result, the province has attracted US $ 2.2 billion of foreign direct investment from 224 new investment projects and 132 additional projects to increase investment capital. Until now, the province has 3,523 foreign investment projects with a total capital of US $ 32.3 billion from 64 countries and territories around the world. Binh Duong is currently ranked third in the country (after Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City) in attracting foreign investment.

Along with focusing on promoting economic development, the province also pays great attention to investment in the cultural and social fields both in terms of facilities and quality of operation. The guidelines and policies on social security are paid attention to well implemented, contributing to improving the material and spiritual life of the people. The situation of political security and social safety order is maintained. Socio-economic infrastructure is invested synchronously and modernly, meeting the demand of socio-economic development of the province. It is clear that these are synchronous solutions to continue to create a clean environment for Binh Duong to attract domestic and foreign investors to invest, produce and trade.

Chairman of the provincial People's Committee Tran Thanh Liem emphasized: "It can be affirmed that one of the important factors helping Binh Duong province to promote foreign activities and achieve the above achievements is thanks to the tight cooperation, enthusiastic and responsible support of consulates, business agencies and foreign business associations ... in introducing and providing information to international investors to the beginning investment, production and business in Binh Duong. Thereby, strengthening the friendship relationship, strengthening investment and development cooperation between Binh Duong and other countries and territories in the world.

Reported by Ho Van – Translated by Vi Bao