Nearly 500 delegates participate in friendly dialogue in Ho Chi Minh City
On September 11, nearly 500 domestic and international delegates attended the 3rd Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue Conference 2026 (FD 2026) on the theme "Local Foreign Affairs: Driving Force for Innovation and Sustainable Growth".
This is a local-level multilateral diplomatic forum event chaired by the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee. In which, the main activities taking place on September 11 include the Mayors' Conference and thematic discussion sessions on cooperation to promote innovation and cooperation in seaport - logistics development.
According to the Organizing Committee, this year FD 2026 has the participation of 35 local delegations and international partners from Asia, Europe, America and Oceania. This is proof of the stature and attractiveness of the event, and also shows the increasingly enhanced role, position, and foreign prestige of Ho Chi Minh City in the international arena.
Through the event, Ho Chi Minh City continues to spread the spirit of friendship, dialogue and sincere cooperation with localities and global partners; at the same time, promoting its pioneering and leading role in local foreign affairs, promoting international integration connection and deeper participation in global networks.
Transforming friendly relations into resources for development
Speaking at the opening of the conference, Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha - Standing Vice Chairman of Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee - said that with an area of more than 6,770 km2 and a population of over 14 million people, Ho Chi Minh City has entered a new stage of development.
Today, the requirements of foreign affairs and international integration, transforming international relations into specific resources for development are set on a much larger foundation than before, with goals and visions for development at a higher level.
Therefore, the theme of this year's Friendship Dialogue not only reflects the development needs of Ho Chi Minh City in the new period, but also expresses the determination to find effective ways to turn the friendly, trustworthy and cooperative relationships that have been nurtured over time into resources for common development.
Therefore, Ho Chi Minh City wishes to listen to the valuable experiences of international localities in many aspects such as: best promoting the role of local authorities in the overall national foreign policy; creating substantive value beyond the scope of meetings and information exchange of local-level multilateral networks; transforming friendly relations, agreements, and political commitments into specific activities with measurable results...
At the same time, Ho Chi Minh City hopes that localities will share cooperation proposals in the coming time, not only in the field but also need clarity about the focal points of participation, coordination mechanisms and specific expected results.
