Having established sister cities with 5 provinces in other countries, the friendly and cooperative relationship between Hai Duong and these localities is increasingly warm and strong.

When mentioning Vientiane province (Laos), many people immediately think of a "friend" who has long been close to Hai Duong province.

In the early years of the twinning relationship, the economic conditions of the two provinces were still difficult, but they helped each other in a number of areas such as surveying and designing wood processing factories, sugar processing, agricultural planning, irrigation, finance, and sharing experiences...

Since 1990, identifying that the cooperative relationship had much potential but had not been properly exploited, the leaders of Hai Duong and Vientiane provinces agreed to adjust the cooperation mechanism.

From there, the Vientiane - Hai Duong Agricultural Development Service Enterprise (later the Hai Duong - Vientiane Joint Venture Center) was born with the initial task of producing livestock and crop breeds to contribute to agricultural development in Vientiane province.

To create a bridge for comprehensive cooperation between the two provinces, the Hai Duong - Vientiane Cooperation Center under the Department of Planning and Investment in each province was established, replacing the joint venture center (now merged into the Friendship Cooperation Center under the Union of Friendship Organizations of Hai Duong province and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vientiane province).

Hai Duong province has sent agricultural officials to support the neighboring province in improving irrigation systems, aquaculture, livestock farming, and giving Vientiane cows, pigs, and crops...

Many important projects in Vientiane province today also bear the mark of contributions and assistance from Hai Duong province. Hai Duong has supported more than 8 billion VND to build the Vientiane Provincial Party Committee Guest House, 6 billion VND to build a Kindergarten in the center of the province...

Hai Duong province also supports Vientiane province in the field of early training, providing scholarships for Vientiane students, and training Vietnamese language for Vientiane provincial officials.

Most recently, the Hai Duong Provincial People's Council passed a resolution to support scholarships for 15 Vientiane students to study in the province.

At Hai Duong University, 15 Lao students are learning to speak and write their first Vietnamese words. The students here have new names such as Tung, Cuc, Truc, Mai, Sen, Hong...

Southammavong Palisa (born in 2007) from Vieng Kham district, Vientiane province is one of the students who speaks Vietnamese best in the class. Having just arrived in Hai Duong province since December 19, 2024, Palisa is very excited and eager.

Previously, students from Vientiane province after graduating from schools in Hai Duong returned to serve their homeland. Athletes after training and coaching in Hai Duong competed with high achievements, especially in athletics, which were significantly improved compared to before and went to participate in domestic and international tournaments.

Along with cooperation for economic development, Hai Duong focuses on cultural exchange with foreign provinces.

20 years ago, leaders of Hai Duong province and Suwon city (Korea) signed a cooperation document, officially establishing the Hai Duong - Suwon friendly cooperative relationship.

With the motto of respecting the cultural, social and traditional identities of each locality, Hai Duong and Suwon have jointly implemented many practical activities to strengthen cooperation in many different fields such as public administration, culture, tourism, education and sports.

Many times, high-ranking delegations from Suwon City attended the Con Son - Kiep Bac Festival. When Suwon City organized the Hwaseong Cultural Festival, a delegation from Hai Duong Province also attended.

During the visits, the two sides exchanged socio-economic situations, introduced the potentials and strengths of the localities, learned about cultural traditions, experiences in organizing festivals, organizing events and preserving heritage, and consolidating and enhancing friendship between the two localities.

At the request of Suwon City, Hai Duong Province has also sent art troupes and chefs to attend and perform at the Hwaseong Cultural Festival for many years, introducing traditional folk arts as well as special dishes of Hai Duong Province and Vietnam.

In 2018, Suwon City sent a representative art troupe to attend and perform, contributing to the success of the large-scale Carnaval Festival organized by Hai Duong province.

Also having a twinning relationship of nearly 20 years, in 2006, Hai Duong province and Seine-Saint-Denis province (France) officially established a friendly cooperative relationship through signing a cooperation agreement.

In terms of culture, the two provinces sent a group of puppeteers to learn and exchange expertise in Vietnamese water puppetry and French puppetry.

A number of managers and technical staff working in the clean water supply sector and managing urban works and urban environment of Hai Duong province have participated in free human resource training courses in the clean water and wastewater treatment sector in Hanoi.

In 2008, Gobe Balangie Hospital in Seine-Saint-Denis signed a cooperation agreement with Hai Duong General Hospital to discuss patient care and treatment and raise awareness of patient health care.

Along with traditional cooperative and friendly relationships, Hai Duong province has been developing relationships with many provinces in countries around the world.

In 2019, Hai Duong province and Kagoshima province (Japan) signed a memorandum of cooperation. Since the memorandum was signed, many cooperation activities between the two provinces have been organized.

Royal green bean cake (Hai Duong city), Chu Dau pottery (Nam Sach), Xuan Neo embroidery (Tu Ky), Thanh Ha lychee, Kiep Bac lotus tea (Chi Linh) and many other famous specialties of Hai Duong have been exported and are present at the fair in Kagoshima province.

On November 6, 2024, at the Eastern Cultural Center (Hai Duong City), a memorandum of understanding was signed to strengthen cooperation and friendly exchange between the People's Committee of Hai Duong province and the government of Foshan City (China).

With the desire to establish and develop friendly cooperation between Hai Duong province and Foshan city, Guangdong province (China) to contribute to strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between the people of the two localities of the two countries, the two sides discussed the implementation of cooperation and friendly exchanges between the two localities and signed a memorandum of understanding.

The two sides agreed to carry out various forms of exchange and cooperation in economics, trade, science and technology, education, culture, sports, tourism, agriculture and other fields to promote common prosperity and development.

This is the premise for the Hai Duong - Foshan relationship to develop further in the future.

Strengthening the establishment and expansion of sister city relations between Hai Duong and other provinces and cities in the world not only helps to enhance cultural exchange, promote friendship and mutual understanding, but also serves development, is a bridge for cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, tourism, education, investment; promotes international solidarity, and contributes to protecting national and ethnic interests.

Hai Duong's international cooperation with localities around the world continues to expand.

Perform:SNOW WIND

Present:TUAN ANH

(The article uses images of colleagues and documentary images)