A ceremony was held in the southern province of Binh Duong on December 18 at Becamex Hotel New City to celebrate the 10th anniversary of its friendship and cooperative ties with Japan’s Yamaguchi prefecture, underscoring notable achievements in economy, education, and cultural exchange. The event coincided with a reception for the foreign diplomatic corps and organisations reflecting Binh Duong’s growing international profile.

Mr. Vo Van Minh, Chairman of the Binh Duong Provincial People’s Committee, spoke the ceremony

Since Vietnam and Japan established diplomatic relations in 1973, Japan has become one of Vietnam’s key strategic partners, investing nearly 78 billion USD and ranking as the country’s third-largest foreign investor. In Binh Duong—often hailed as a dynamic industrial hub—Japan stands as the second-largest investor with 357 projects worth almost 6 billion USD.

Over the past 10 years, Binh Duong and Yamaguchi have fostered strong collaboration through initiatives like academic exchanges between Eastern International University (EIU) – an university invested by Becamex IDC Corporation, and Yamaguchi University, as well as technical trainee programs that send local youth to Yamaguchi for professional training. Cultural activities, including the Japanese Cultural Festival and the Vietnam-Japan U13 International Youth Cup, have deepened mutual understanding and strengthened people-to-people ties.

During the anniversary celebration, the two sides signed a new Memorandum of Understanding and a working agreement on personnel exchange, pledging closer cooperation in science and technology, high-tech agriculture, education, healthcare, workforce development, sports, and culture.

Leaders of the two localities signed a Memorandum of Understanding to strengthen their friendly cooperation.

Later the same day, provincial leaders welcomed ambassadors, consuls general, and representatives from foreign missions at the Binh Duong Convention and Exhibition Center to celebrate the province’s diplomatic strides in 2024. Attending the reception were Mr. Nguyen Van Loi, Member of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of provincial Party Committee and Head of provincial National Assembly deputy delegation; Mr. Vo Van Minh, Vice Secretary of provincial Party Committee, Chairman of provincial People’s Committee; Mr. Nguyen Van Loc, Member of provincial Party Standing Committee, Chairman of provincial People’s Council; members of provincial Party Standing Committee, leaders of departments and sectors of the province, consuls general of countries in Ho Chi Minh city; a high-ranking delegation of Yamaguchi prefecture in Japan

Addressing the gathering, Mr. Vo Van Minh noted that in 2024, Binh Duong recorded a 7.48% growth in gross regional domestic product (GRDP), with per capita GRDP reaching 181 million VND. The province achieved an import-export turnover of 60 billion USD, yielding a trade surplus of 10 billion USD. This year, Binh Duong attracted an additional over 2.2 billion USD in foreign direct investment. As of December 15, 2024, the province had more than 4,400 investment projects from 65 countries and territories, including Japan, Singapore, the Republic of Korea, Denmark, and others, with a total registered capital exceeding 42.4 billion USD. Binh Duong currently ranks second nationwide in attracting foreign investment, following Ho Chi Minh City.

Provincial leaders and representatives of Vietnamese diplomatic agencies abroad and Consulates General congratulate the New Year 2025

Highlighting the province’s commitment to international cooperation, Chairman Vo Van Minh pointed to new partnership agreements signed with Heidelberg City in Germany and Ha Nam City in China. With these agreements, Binh Duong now maintains formal cooperative relations with 14 foreign localities, underlining the region’s extensive global network. Furthermore, Binh Duong is an active member of three international organizations and was honored by the Intelligent Community Forum (ICF) in 2023 as the world’s leading community for smart city development strategies.

Speaking on behalf of the diplomatic community, Mr. Pang Te Cheng, Consul General of the Republic of Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City, praised Binh Duong’s forward-looking strategies for attracting investment and congratulated provincial leaders on recent socio-economic achievements. He also expressed hope for deeper cooperation with Binh Duong in business, education, healthcare, and culture.

Looking ahead, Binh Duong plans to accelerate infrastructure upgrades, including key transport routes such as Ring Roads 3 and 4 and a metro system, to sustain its momentum. With a decade of success already marked by fruitful ties to Yamaguchi, the province appears poised to build on its growing international reputation, championing sustainable development and innovation for years to come.

Source: Binh Duong Government.