EXTERNAL RELATIONS IN THE FIRST SIX MONTHS OF 2021 AMID COVID-19 OUTBREAK

Covid-19 pandemic broke out and spread internationally, leading the serious crisis worldwide. Nevertheless, the domestically economic situation has positively recovered with remarkable results, especially during the complicated development of new variants of SARS-CoV-2. Vietnam’s socio-economic situation remains stable in the first half of the year, gaining positive results in many spheres. 

Also, Dak Lak’s external relations have been partly affected due to the pandemic. Particularly, outbound delegations to promote investment and trade abroad must be halted; number of foreign experts and visitors has decreased in compared to the same period last year; the 2021 Plan for Cultural Diplomacy Plan and people-to-people exchanges with neighboring localities have also been suspended. However, in the context of common difficulties, Dak Lak’s external relations have been implemented in an active manner with flexible and appropriate methods. The face-to-face meetings with foreign partners have been converted to online events and directed to those living in Vietnam. Besides, the procedures for inbound delegations have been resolved quickly but still ensured the COVID-19 containment. Moreover, Dak Lak has actively connected with foreign localities that have established relationships with the province to exchange information and promote cooperation activities in the coming time.           Additionally, non-governmental aid advocacy has been actively enhanced through building a list of calls for aid, researching possible funding sources, introducing and actively supporting localities in procedures, creating favourable conditions for donors. All has contributed to the implementation of dual goals under the direction of the Government. On the other hand, the province’s external activities should be strengthened in some spheres as follows:

Dak Lak continues to cooperating with traditional partners and those have established relations as well.

- Regarding the relationship with Cambodia: Dak Lak province always fosters the traditional friendship and comprehensive cooperation as well as mutual assistance and solidarity in the context of the coronavirus disease (​COVID-19) outbreak. Specially, Dak Lak PPC worked side by side with the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee and the Provincial Military Command to offer cash, necessities and medical supplies for Mondulkiri government, people, soldiers and young unions as well as overseas Vietnamese in the province. In addition, Dak Lak Provincial Public Security granted gifts for the armed forces of the neighbouring province. Whereas, the Vietnam-Cambodia Friendship Association mobilized and supported donations for the Cambodian in preventing and controlling Covid-19 epidemic at the call of the Central Committee of Cambodia-Vietnam Friendship Association. 

- Regarding the relationship with Laos: Dak Lak held an event to celebrate Bunpimay, the traditional New Year Festival of Laos in 2021 for Lao-Vietnamese people in Krong Na commune, Buon Don district while the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association of Dak Lak province gave many gifts to Lao-Vietnamese households and Lao students studying in the province on the occasion of this water splash festival. Besides, five Lao students have been selected to study at the Central Highlands Ethnic Minority Boarding School under the cooperation with the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association. Currently, Dak Lak is researching the possibility of supporting Southern province of Laos in the fight against coronavirus at the request of the Consulate General of Vietnam in Pakse – Laos.

- Regarding the relationship with Korea: Under the MoU signed in December 2017, Dak Lak and Jeollabuk carried out many cooperation activities. Especially, Dak Lak Department of Industry and Trade in collaboration with the JVEC Korean Training Centre organized a program to train high quality human resources for mechanical engineering. Dak Lak Radio and Television Station and the Dockingtheque Company in Jeollabuk, Korea connected to apply for funding from the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism of Korea to support the production of documentary films about the cultural heritage of gongs and agricultural music. Due to the restriction on entry and exit of both countries during the Covid-19 outbreak, most activities are in the preparation stage.

- Regarding the relationship with Mongolia: In 2019, with the introduction and support of the Vietnamese Embassy in Mongolia, Dak Lak province signed the MoU on officially establishing a twinning relationship with Orkhon province. However, due to the Covid-19 epidemic, the two provinces are expecting to promote the image, beauty, cultural values and major events of the two localities on the mass media of each other to implement the content of the signed agreement.

- Regarding the relationship with Australia: Dak Lak had a delegation to work in Australia at the end of 2019 and initially established a cooperative relationship between Buon Ma Thuot city and Goulburn city. The two sides signed the MoU on cooperation in education - training; tourism (cultural, ecological, ...) in the direction of environmental protection and sustainable development; as well as sharing information. The two sides are currently exchanging information about potential cooperation for future and finding appropriate cooperation solutions amid the COVID-19 outbreak without direct delegation exchange activities.

- With Russia: Promoting the results achieved after the business trip to the Russian Federation in 2019, Dak Lak province exchanged and provided the province’s cooperation proposals for the Vologda region, Leningrad region and St. Petersburg after the Online Conference on November 19, 2020. The St. Petersburg city received the information and responded to specific cooperation proposals.

It is expected that in the coming time, the two sides will continue to exchange information through online form.

In addition, the province actively participated in the midterm webinar on cooperation between Vietnamese and French localities organized by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Association of French localities. Also, Dak Lak attended the online meeting organized by the Cuban Embassy in Ho Chi Minh City to update the Cuban situation, cooperation and investment opportunities between Dak Lak and Cuba. After the online meeting, Dak Lak sent the response to the Consulate General of Cuba on the need of receiving Cuban doctors on the basis of opinions of the Provincial Department of Health and proposed cooperation in a number of other fields such as investment and agriculture.

Moreover, Dak Lak has paid attention to the economic diplomacy and gained encouraging achievements, initially exploiting the advantages and potentials of the province. In particular, Dak Lak issued 07 new investment certificates for the first six months of the year; including 06 investment projects in wind power plant with total investment capital of VND10,088 billion and 01 investment project in poultry hatchery with total investment capital of VND52.5 billion. Up to now, the total FDI projects in the province has reached 20 projects, with a total registered capital of USD564,609 million (equivalent to VND 12,386.73 billion), mainly in the fields of agriculture, services, trade, environment, and wind power. The FDI projects into the province are from 07 countries and territories.

Regarding the mobilization and use of official development assistance funds, Dak Lak province has approved investment policies for 02 projects with a total value of VND83,507 billion (The Lower Mekong Fish Passage Initiative at Ea Tul weir, Ea Wer commune, Buon Don district, funded by the U.S. Department of the Interior´s International Technical Assistance Program (DOI‐ITAP); and off-grid renewable energy subproject in remote rural areas in Dak Lak province). Also, Dak Lak has approved the implementation of the project on strengthening the resilience of smallholder agriculture to climate change-induced water insecurity in the Central Highlands and South-Central Coast regions of Vietnam in the province with a total value of VND118,591 billion funded by the Green Climate Fund (GCF). Furthermore, the implementation and disbursement of foreign capital from the central budget and reciprocal capital have been accelerated to promptly removing difficulties and actively creating conditions for ODA projects to complete on schedule and promote efficiency.

Although there are still difficulties in mobilizing foreign non-governmental aid, the province has approved 02 foreign non-governmental aids (NGOs), with a total registered capital of USD251,162 in the first 6 months of 2021. Currently, Dak Lak is evaluating the project malaria prevention and control amongst mobile populations in the period of 2021-2023 with a value of USD196,808. Besides, 12 aids are being implemented in the province under the provisions of law to bring about socio-economic efficiency and contribute to ensuring social security for the province. Those aids focus on healthcare, social security, building educational infrastructure to gradually achieve the goals in the education development strategy of the province, strengthening capacity and institutions through technical assistance programs and projects in various fields, improving livelihoods for disadvantaged people and ethnic minorities in remote areas, etc.

Also, the citizen protection has been paid special attention to due to the Covid-19 pandemic. In the first 6 months of 2021, Dak Lak province coordinated with the Consular Department and Vietnamese representative agencies abroad to protect Vietnamese citizens in China, Laos, Korea....

In addition, the work of cultural diplomacy, external propaganda, border management, etc. has been continuously implemented in a synchronous manner with suitable forms to the complication situation of Covid-19 pandemic.

The Covid-19 pandemic continues to be a direct influence on the international economic development with many risks and challenges, especially price and inflation, despite the recovery trend with positive growth signs. Moreover, vaccination is not evenly distributed across countries, leading to sizable disparities in economic recovery, potentially increasing inequality and income gaps around the world.

Therefore, Dak Lak province continues to effectively implement the “dual goal”, drastically and effectively preventing and controlling the epidemic, protecting the people’s health while promoting socio-economic development. Specifically, Dak Lak is maintaining stable agricultural and industrial production, prices of food in the province; ensuring favourable conditions for enterprises to continue their production and business. In addition, the activities in the fields of culture, communication and social security are concerning and enhancing. The situation of political security and social order and safety are maintained also.

Hong Minh