Phu Tho province and Nara Prefecture have many similarities linked to thousands of years of history of the establishment and development of both provinces. Besides, both localities are original lands, the worship places of the first King of each country. Furthermore, Phu Tho province has similarities with Nara Prefecture regarding natural, cultural, social conditions and population. Therefore, two sides have boosted together the development of bilateral cooperative relations in the fields of economy, investment, trade, education, culture and tourism to promote the potential and strengths of each local that promotes socio-economics development. Moreover, Phu Tho province and Nara Prefecture have annual visits to strengthen the twinned relations between the two provinces.
Since Phu Tho province established friendly and cooperative relations with Nara Prefecture in the end of 2012, two provincial governments have had many high-level meetings officially to actively work, exchange and implement mutually beneficial cooperation in the fields of culture, investment, trade, education, tourism, agriculture, forestry… After more than one year, two sides signed officially MOU on bilateral cooperation. The event is an important step in building friendly and cooperative relations, mutual trust between Phu Tho province and Nara Prefecture. That is also a result of continuous efforts of the Phu Tho province’s political system on promoting comprehensive international integration, promoted to implement from the central to local levels by the Party and the Government. Furthermore, it demonstrates the cooperative ability and international prestige of Phu Tho province with Japanese partner in particular and international forum in general.
The 1st East Asia Local and Regional Government Congress was held in 2010 on the occasion of Heijo-kyo ancient capital’s 1300 years Anniversary. It was also a celebration, held in the Nara city for the first time, was the deep gratitude to ancestors who built "Nara period" and recognized the cooperation of East Asia people included six countries: China, India, Indonesia, the Philippines, South Korea and Japan. The Congress aimed at laying the foundation for further development of East Asia, promoting the efforts and building a firm foundation for the implementation of ideas: Good coordination of original cuture and heritage conservation, integration, socio-economics cultural development in the locals with similar characteristics and historical relations in East Asia. Untill now, the Congress has had 67 members from 7 nations.
Since 2012, Phu Tho province regularly has attended the sessions of East Asia Local and Regional Government Congress as an official member. At the sessions of the Congress, Phu Tho province has presentations with different themes. The delegations were interested in the speeches of Phu Tho province and asked lots of questions about the methods and measures regarding the mobilization of economic development resources, the promotion of World Heritage’s values and the tourism development to share experience for other members at international forums.
Recently, before the 6th Congress was held in Nara on October 24th to 29th, 2015 in Nara, Phu Tho province once again had confirmed the international cooperative relations for sustainable development between two sides and showed the efforts to seek opportunities and sound choices on the way of integration and development of the province. Participating in the mission, Phu Tho delegation led by Mr. Hoang Cong Thuy, the Provincial Commissioner, Vice Chairman of Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee with the leaders of the departments of Planning and Investment; Culture, Sports and Tourism; Foreign Affairs; Office of the Provincial People's Committee and the leaders of Viet Tri City People’s Committee.
Under the topic “Local economic development through Tourism", the representative of Phu Tho delegation had a speech themed "How to develop tourism products in a sustainable way". Through speeches, the achievements of socio-economics development in the period of 2010 to 2015, objectives and determined vision of Phu Tho province in the coming period were introduced to numerous participants. That is also the basis for the provinces and localities of Japan and other countries participating in the Congress to study, research and attract investors investing in Phu Tho province in coming time. The presentation was highly appreciated by Chairperson and members of the Congress.
At the investment promotion conference of Phu Tho province with Nara Prefecture’s local governments and businesses, Vice Chairman of Phu Tho Provincial People’s Committee Hoang Cong Thuy generally introduced the socio-economics development, the potential and strengths, investment preferential policies, infrastructure and industrial zones’s land as well as reviewed the content implemented according to the MOU signed between Phu Tho province and Nara Prefecture. Besides, Mr. Thuy also reached consensus of specific cooperative fields in the near future, answered satisfactory all questions of businesses about investment preferential policies as well as investment attractable policies and undertook to have preferential policies for infrastructure, land, tax and create favorable conditions in all fields for the investors to invest in Phu Tho province. Many businesses of Nara Prefecture and Japan undertook to visit and investigate practical investment opportunities in Phu Tho province.
In the program, the delegation also had a meeting with the Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka and Vietnam Embassy in Tokyo. The delegation expressed the desire to be supported in enhancing international cooperation with localities and businesses of Japan and choosing some localities had economic strengths and cultural similarities by diplomatic representative offices here to enhance friendly cooperative relations, thereby promoting local socio-economics development.
Phu Tho province had two booths themed "One destination two world heritage" (two world heritage of Phu Tho province, recognized by UNESCO, are Faith Hung Kings worship and Hat Xoan) to introduce specific culture, tourism and human resources of the at the 2015 International Tourism Fair held at the commercial center of Osaka city besides attending the Congress. The fair is an opportunity for wide and impressive advertisement of the ancestral land - Phu Tho province’s valuable cultural heritage and the tourism potential.
The East Asia Local and Regional Government Congress is annual Congress with the participation of many managers, reputable scholars in East Asia. The discussion process during the Congress goes deep into socio-economics fields and summarizes many lessons in the management as well as the measures to promote developing cooperation of the provinces and localities in the area.
Nguyen Thu Hien