The event, hosted by the municipal People's Committee, was announced by Pham Dut Diem, Director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Affairs, at a press conference on September 4.

Implementing Politburo Resolution 59 on international integration in the new context, FD 2026 themed “Sub-national Diplomacy: Driving Force for Innovation and Sustainable Growth”, aims to provide a platform for localities, experts, and businesses to share governance experience, discuss advanced development models, and expand cooperation in science, technology, innovation, investment, trade, and human resource development.

Through practical dialogue and networking, the event seeks to mobilize high-quality resources, enhance innovation, enhance competitiveness, and support the city’s rapid, sustainable development while establishing long-term partnership mechanisms with international peers.

The centerpiece of the event is the Mayors' Conference on the morning of September 11, where local leaders will discuss the proactive role of local adminstrations within national foreign policy, contributing to international cooperation strategies.

Participants will share practical insights from joining global urban networks such as ChainPORT, World Cities Culture Forum, C40, Metropolis, UCLG, and CityNet.

Discussions will focus on leveraging city diplomacy as a practical development tool to attract investment, transfer advanced technology, acquire modern management expertise, and train high-quality human resources.

Second Ho Chi Minh City friendship dialogue held

The second Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue 2024 was held on September 24 with the participation of 35 delegations from international localities that have set up friendship and cooperative relations with the southern city.

Delegates from 15 countries register for the HCM City Friendship Dialogue 2024

VOV.VN - As many as 31 localities from 15 countries have confirmed their participation in the second Friendship Dialogue due to take place in Ho Chi Minh City on September 23 – 24, according to the Department of Foreign Affairs of Ho Chi Minh City.

The first thematic session, "Innovation and Development Cooperation," will concentrate on local institutional solutions to encourage business investment in research and development (R&D) and turn innovation into commercial products, bridging the gap from research to market while building specific cooperation mechanisms across Ho Chi Minh City’s friendship network.

The second thematic session, "Seaport and Logistics Development Cooperation," will address the urgent need for green seaport cooperation. It will highlight the role of local administrations in supply chain connectivity, compliance with new-generation sustainability standards, and the potential for a multilateral city-level mechanism to share data, boost competitiveness, and ensure environmental standards across global supply chains.

The dialogue will also feature bilateral side meetings, public diplomacy activities, site visits to economic production models and tourism landmarks, and traditional cultural heritage experiences.

FD 2026 serves to strengthen friendship and mutual understanding among localities, while creating an open platform to share ideas, connect initiatives, and boost partnerships. The event is designed to expand Ho Chi Minh City’s partner network, advance practical cooperation programs, and reinforce its pioneering role in sub-national diplomacy for innovation and sustainable growth.

First held in 2022 under the theme "Resilience for Recovery and Development" with 24 international delegations, the dialogue’s second edition in 2024 gathered 35 international local delegations under the theme "Industrial Transformation: Experience and Priorities in Development Cooperation."