Opening of the 14th East Asia Local Government Conference

On June 6, the 14th East Asia Local Government Conference officially opened in Hue City. The Phu Tho provincial delegation attending the conference included Mr. Nguyen Manh Son, member of the Provincial Party Committee and Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Committee; Mr. Nguyen Trung Kien, member of the Provincial Party Committee and Standing Vice Chairman of the Provincial People’s Council; along with leaders of the Department of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Department of Foreign Affairs, and the People’s Committee of Viet Tri City.

The 14th East Asia Local Government Conference brought together 200 delegates from 30 delegations representing Japan, China, South Korea, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Delivering a speech on the theme “Strengthening Local Cooperation to Develop Green and Sustainable Tourism,” Vice Chairman of the Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Manh Son emphasized that Phu Tho is the ancestral land of the Vietnamese people—where the Hung Kings founded the nation—and is home to numerous invaluable cultural heritages. Notably, the province boasts two UNESCO-recognized Intangible Cultural Heritages of Humanity: the worship of the Hung Kings in Phu Tho and Phu Tho Xoan singing.

With its distinctive midland terrain, expansive green tea hills, natural hot mineral springs, diverse ecosystems, and vibrant ethnic communities, Phu Tho holds significant potential for sustainable tourism development. The province is pursuing a development orientation of “Green Tourism—Sustainable Values for the Future,” built on three core pillars: environment, culture, and people. Currently, Phu Tho is implementing several typical green tourism models, such as spiritual and cultural tourism to the ancestral land combined with experiential activities in ancient Xoan singing villages and traditional craft villages; ecotourism at Thanh Thuy Hot Mineral Water Resort, focusing on energy efficiency, health care, and emissions reduction; and rural community-based and agricultural tourism in Tan Son and Yen Lap districts, closely associated with majestic landscapes and the cultural identity of the Dao and Muong ethnic groups.

Within the framework of the conference, Vice Chairman Nguyen Manh Son presented Phu Tho’s specialty tea to Mr. Wang Yinghai, Vice Mayor of Linyi City, China.

The governor of Nara Prefecture, Japan, Mr. Yamashita Makoto, visited Phu Tho’s booth showcasing the province’s traditional products.

Drawing on Phu Tho’s local experience, Vice Chairman Nguyen Manh Son proposed the establishment of the East Asia Green Tourism Alliance. The initiative aims to create a forum for localities to share green tourism development models, promote green tourism partnerships and twinning relationships, and engage communities, businesses, and local residents in the preservation of cultural heritage and the advancement of green, sustainable tourism.

Also within the framework of the conference, the vice chairman held meetings to promote investment and foster trade and tourism cooperation with government leaders, partners, and businesses from East Asian countries.

Trung An (Department of Foreign Affairs)