TTLA: International cooperation at local level - The case of Da Nang city (1997 - 2020).

1. Full name of PhD student: Do Phuong Thao 2. Gender: Female
3. Date of birth: January 22, 1980 4. Place of birth: Da Nang City
5. Decision to recognize PhD students: Decision No. 4416/2019/QD-XHNV dated November 26, 2019 of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi
6. Changes in the training process (if any): Decision No. 3675/QD-XHNV dated December 7, 2022 of the University of Social Sciences and Humanities on extending the study period of PhD students QH-2019-X (2nd round, 1st time).
7. Thesis topic: Local international cooperation - The case of Da Nang city (1997 - 2020).
8. Major: International Relations 9. Code: 9310601.01
10. Scientific advisor: Prof. Dr. Hoang Khac Nam
11. Summary of new results of the thesis:
Purpose and research objects of the thesis
- Purpose: To clarify the awareness and practice of international cooperation at the local level in the world and in Vietnam with a specific case study of Da Nang city; on that basis, propose solutions to improve the effectiveness of international cooperation in Da Nang city.
- Research object: International cooperation at local level in some countries in the world and in Vietnam with a specific case study on international cooperation of Da Nang city.
Research methods used
- General method: The thesis uses methods of analysis, synthesis, demonstration, comparison, statistics, forecasting, etc. to analyze the characteristics, roles, results and prospects of international cooperation at the local level.
- Historical and logical method: Examines international cooperation at the local level over a period of time from its inception to the present and in spatial order from the world to Vietnam and to Da Nang city. The historical method is combined with the application of the logical method to find out the nature, universality, or objective laws of movement and development of this level of international cooperation.
- Policy analysis method: Study and evaluate the goals and contents of the state's foreign policy as well as international cooperation policy at the local level, specifically the policy of Da Nang city.
- Case study method: Studying international cooperation of Da Nang city as a specific case to analyze the motivation, role, results and prospects of local-level international cooperation.
- Expert method: Through practical work, exchange and discussion with international relations experts as well as diplomatic officers in central and local agencies to collect information and views on international cooperation at the local level.
Main results and conclusions
Key results
- The thesis will contribute to the development of theoretical and practical foundations for the study of international relations at the local level, which is still an area that has not received much attention in the field of international relations in Vietnam.
- In particular, in the context of works in the world and in Vietnam only focusing on analyzing bilateral cooperation at the local level, the Thesis will have new theoretical and practical contributions when systematizing and analyzing multilateral cooperation at the local level.
- The thesis will help central agencies and local governments in Vietnam build appropriate international cooperation policies in the current context of integration and globalization.
- By analyzing the case of Da Nang city, the thesis will be a useful reference document for leaders and foreign affairs staff of the city to research, plan and implement international cooperation policies in a practical and effective manner.
Conclude
- Major trends in international relations such as globalization, decentralization, cooperation for development as well as the support of the international community and the governments of some major countries create conditions for local-level international cooperation to form and develop. Such new developments in practice have led to changes in theory and academia. The foreign affairs activities of sub-national entities have begun to attract the attention of researchers in the field of international relations and some specialized fields such as international law, urban management, public administration, etc. Works on this topic are quite rich and diverse in both conceptual content and research area and scope.
- Up to now, there has not been a completely unified concept to refer to the international activities of regions and cities under the national government. In Vietnam, the two concepts of "foreign affairs" and "diplomacy" are often used interchangeably although the connotations of these two concepts are not identical. To be consistent with the research content and practice in the world, the Thesis agrees to use the concepts of "local diplomacy" and "local international cooperation" instead of "local diplomacy" as commonly used in Vietnam today.
- From the perspective of the main international relations theories, all three international relations theories including realism, liberalism and constructivism need to be considered to have an overall view of the motivation for localities to promote international cooperation activities. In particular, liberalism is the most suitable theoretical foundation because liberalism recognizes the participation of non-state actors in international relations and believes that cooperation is still the main trend in relations between actors.
- The research works also left an important achievement which is the efforts to build an analytical framework on diplomacy of sub-national subjects. Based on the analytical framework of Kuznetsov [2015], the author of the thesis has built an analytical framework to apply to the case of Da Nang city in particular and Vietnamese localities in general. From this new analytical framework, the thesis analyzes three groups of factors affecting international cooperation at the local level in general, including international factors, national factors and local factors. Particularly for Da Nang city, in addition to the above factors, the city's international cooperation activities are also affected by domestic factors and internal factors, in which internal factors play a decisive role.
- Foreign affairs activities of sub-national entities have a long history of formation and development through the two most common methods of promoting bilateral relations with other foreign countries/localities or participating in multilateral organizations/networks. In terms of cooperation, development cooperation and climate diplomacy are the two most interested activities.
- In Vietnam, localities have actively established friendly relations including bilateral cooperation and participated in sub-national multilateral networks. The number of bilateral relations as well as the number of international agreements at the local level has increased, and certain achievements in a number of areas such as investment, trade, education - training, environment, border cooperation, etc. have been recorded. Some provinces and cities have actively promoted cooperation in international networks and forums. However, the number of localities achieving outstanding results is not much, and an independent mechanism or program to coordinate and support this activity has not yet been built. On that basis, limitations and obstacles are also analyzed to draw necessary lessons for the integration and cooperation process in the next stage.
- Although local international cooperation in the world in general and in Vietnam in particular will still face many challenges, it will be an indispensable component in the current multi-layered international relations system. In that context, the achievements in international cooperation of Da Nang city, from 1997 to 2020, are vivid evidence of the will and determination of the city's government and people in proactively and actively integrating to take advantage of support and resources from outside to serve the development of their locality. In order to improve the effectiveness of international cooperation activities of Da Nang city, the thesis recommends a number of solutions, from general solutions on policies and awareness to specific plans on resource building, effective application of digital diplomacy tools, strengthening and expanding bilateral relations with foreign localities as well as enhancing the role in multilateral organizations and forums.
12. Further research directions
- Continue to adjust and update the analytical framework on local-level international cooperation to suit current legal regulations and new practical situations of Vietnam in general and Da Nang city in particular.
- Continue to supplement and complete the concept of "local international cooperation" in the context of Vietnam; clarify the difference between the two concepts of "local international cooperation" and "local foreign affairs".
- Further research on some methods and areas of local international cooperation, including local development cooperation, local climate diplomacy, and local multilateral cooperation.
13. Publications related to the thesis

Thesis purpose and objects
- Purpose: To clarify the perception and practices of international cooperation at local level around the world and in Vietnam with Da Nang City as a case study.
- Objects: International cooperation of sub-national entities around the world and in Viet Nam with a case study on international cooperation of Da Nang City.
Research methods
- General methods: The thesis utilizes methods of analysis, summary, justification, comparison, statistical collection and prediction etc. to analyze the features, roles, results and future of international cooperation at local level.
- Historical and logical methods: These methods are applied to consider international cooperation from its inception up to now and within the spatial sequences from Vietnam to Da Nang City, as well as to find out the nature, popularity or rules of objective development of this phenomenon.
- Policy analyzing method: Objectives and contents of the foreign policy at central and local levels are discussed and evaluated, especially in the case of Da Nang.
- Case study method: International cooperation of Da Nang City is studied as an example to illustrate the motivations, roles, results and prospects of international cooperation at local level.
- Expert method: The author collects information and perspectives regarding international cooperation at local level through working practices, discussions, and talks with international relations experts as well as diplomatic officers in both central and local agencies.
Major results and conclusions
The major results
- The thesis will contribute to the development of theoretical and practical grounds for research on international cooperation at local level, which is a new topic with insufficient attention in the International Relations discipline in Vietnam.
- Especially, while other research in the world and Vietnam have just focused on sub-national bilateral relations, the thesis will make new theoretical and practical contributions by systematizing and analyzing multilateral cooperation at this level.
- The thesis will act as a source of reference for Vietnamese agencies at central and local level to devise appropriate international cooperation policies in the context of integration and globalisation.
- With the case of Da Nang to be studied, the thesis will be helpful for leaders and officials of Da Nang in exploring, stipulating and effectively implementing cooperation with foreign partners.
Conclusions
- Major trends in international relations include globalisation, decentralization, cooperation for development, as well as the support of international communities and some major countries have paved the way for international cooperation at local level. Such new moves have led to changes in academic and theoretical fields. More attention has been paid to the international action of sub-state actors. Research conducted by scholars in International Relations and other relevant disciplines have increased with diverse perception, contents, areas and scopes.
- A generally accepted concept to indicate the international action of sub-state entities has been still absent so far. In Vietnam, the two terms “external relations” and “diplomacy” have been interchangeably used despite their different meanings. In the thesis, the concepts of “sub-national diplomacy” and “international cooperation at local level” are adapted instead of the frequently used term “local external relations” in Vietnam.
- From the perspective of main international relations theories, all the three theories of realism, liberalism and constructivism need to be considered to build on a comprehensive view of motivations behind international action of sub-state actors. Of them, liberalism should be the most suitable theory because it recognizes the participation of non-state actors in international relations and confirms that cooperation is still a main tendency in the multi-actor relationship.
- Analytical frameworks are also significant achievements of research in this field. Based on Kuznetsov's analytical framework [2015], the thesis's analytical framework is built, which is applicable to the case of Da Nang City as well as other Vietnamese localities. From this perspective, the thesis analyzes three groups of factors involving international cooperation at local level, which include international, national and local factors. In the case of Da Nang, besides those general factors, the city's international cooperation is also impacted by Vietnamese factors and internal factors of Da Nang. Although all these factors are important, the city's internal ones determine.
- The international action of sub-state actors has been developed for a long time with the two most popular forms of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. Those entities have promoted bilateral relations with other foreign nation-states and localities as well as conducted their membership in multilateral organizations and networks. Regarding cooperative aspects, cooperation development and climate diplomacy are considered the most typical and engaging activities.
- Vietnamese provinces and have actively established friendly ties and taken part in sub-national networks. The number of bilateral agreements and relationships have increasingly risen with certain outputs in several fields of investment, trade, education and training, environment, and border cooperation etc. Some localities have assumed proactive roles in multilateral networks and forums. However, the count of remarkable results is still limited and there is still lack of an independent mechanism or program in Vietnam to assist sub-national diplomacy. In this regard, considerations and hindrances are explored for necessary lessons to serve the integration and cooperation in the next period.
- Although international cooperation at local level in the world and Vietnam will particularly face many challenges, this action will be an indispensable component of the present multi-layered international relations. With this in mind, the results of Da Nang's international cooperation during the period of 1997 - 2020 have demonstrated the determination and efforts of the city government and people. The city aims at proactive integration to make use of external resources for local socio-economic development. The thesis recommends some groups of measures for more effective international cooperation of Da Nang, which range from policy-making, awareness raising to capacity building, utilization of digital diplomacy, improvement of existing linkages and establishment of new ties, as well as better participation in multilateral networks.