The 3rd Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue 2026 (FD 2026) was held from September 10 to 12, theming “Local Diplomacy: Driving Force for Innovation and Sustainable Growth.”
The event gathered nearly 500 delegates, including leaders from central ministries and sectors, Ho Chi Minh City officials, and 35 international delegations spanning four continents.
During the Mayors’ Conference, which was held in the framework of the FD 2026, a Joint Declaration was adopted, recognizing the growing role of subnational and local diplomacy in the implementation of national foreign policies.
Furthermore, participants agreed to assign focal agencies from Ho Chi Minh City and participating international localities to collaborate on concrete action plans in preparation for the 4th Ho Chi Minh City Friendship Dialogue scheduled for 2028.
In his opening address, Standing Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee Nguyen Loc Ha stated that the presence of international delegates reflects friendship, trust, and solidarity.
He noted that the gathering demonstrates a shared desire to strengthen connectivity, share development opportunities, foster innovation, enhance competitiveness, and jointly address challenges for sustainable growth.
Amid increasingly complex global developments, Mr. Ha highlighted that urban centers play a crucial role in shaping new growth drivers. Cities serve as focal points where strategic resources, knowledge, technological breakthroughs, and dynamic economic activities converge.
However, the municipal leader emphasized that no single city or locality can tackle modern development issues entirely on its own. Therefore, international cooperation is not merely an option, but a foundational requirement that determines the sustainable development capacity of every nation.
Looking ahead, Ho Chi Minh City has affirmed that strengthening internal resources, enhancing economic autonomy, and building national resilience must proceed in tandem with expanding comprehensive and deep-level international cooperation.
Through platforms like the Friendship Dialogue, the southern economic hub aims to reinforce its role as a key gateway for international integration, innovation, and sustainable development.
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