16 countries register to participate in dialogue with HCMC

This information was shared during a press conference on the HCMC Friendship Dialogue and the Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum 2024, organized by the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on the morning of September 12.

Le Truong Duy, Acting Deputy Director of the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City and Director of the Center for Foreign Service and International Conferences, announced that the second Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue (FD) in 2024, with the theme “Industrial Transformation: Experiences and Priorities in Development Cooperation,” will take place from September 23 to 24.

So far, 36 delegations from localities and ministries from 16 countries, including Laos, Cambodia, China, Cuba, the United States, Japan, South Korea, Russia, India, Germany, Australia, Italy, Portugal, Belarus, Hungary, and Uruguay, have confirmed their participation.

At the conference, delegates will hear an overview report on industrial transformation in Ho Chi Minh City and discuss the industrial transformation process of international localities, including experiences in policy development to promote industrial growth at the local level, technological innovations, and resource mobilization (PPP, finance, human resources).

Additionally, challenges and difficulties faced by Ho Chi Minh City in the process of industrial transformation will be assessed, and proposals for potential areas of cooperation with the city will be made.

As part of FD 2024, the organizers will announce the Ho Chi Minh City International Friendship Symbol.

Additionally, there will be numerous cultural diplomacy activities, such as organizing friendship tea and coffee parties and showcasing signature agricultural products from Ho Chi Minh City and Vietnam. These events aim to bring the essence of Vietnamese tea and coffee closer to international delegates through traditional cultural stories, while also creating a space for connections between leaders, businesses, experts, and organizations.

International delegates will also try on traditional Vietnamese "ao dai" designed specifically for the event. These "ao dai" are made from Vietnamese brocade and silk, featuring stylized bamboo leaf patterns. This activity aims to spread the beauty of the "ao dai" to delegates from other countries and introduce this symbol of Vietnamese culture to international friends.

Nguyen Ngoc Hoa, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City Business Association (HUBA), stated that the 5th Ho Chi Minh City Economic Forum (HEF) in 2024 will be held from September 24-27, with the theme "Industrial Transformation: A New Driver for Sustainable Development in Ho Chi Minh City."

As of now, 40 international delegations from localities, ministries, and experts from 16 countries have confirmed their participation.

The forum will feature both plenary and parallel sessions focusing on global and Ho Chi Minh City's industrial transformation.

A notable event will be a policy dialogue attended by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and various local ministries. This session will provide an opportunity for localities and businesses to engage in substantive discussions with the Prime Minister and central ministries regarding the current status and solutions for applying the industrial transformation model in the city, as well as national strategy issues. Additionally, recommendations on models, solutions, and policies at a macro level will be presented to the government.

As part of the two events, Ho Chi Minh City will also launch the Centre for the Fourth Industrial Revolution (C4IR), located in the HCMC High-Tech Park. This centre will be part of the global network of the World Economic Forum (WEF).