At the conference, VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga said: The 6th Conference of the Standing Committee took place at the right time as the country was looking back at the half-term work of implementing the 13th Party Congress Resolution, confirming orientation for the remaining half term.

VUFO President speaks at the conference (Photo: Thu Ha).

At the Conference, members of the Standing Committee listened to the report on the work results of the first six months of this year, the directions for the other six months, and the plan for the National Conference on People-to-people Affairs in 2023, which will take place in Binh Dinh. Delegates also listened to reports and discuss the change of members in the Standing Committee and the Presidium, and implemented the process of introducing VUFO leaders.

Report on the first half year's work: Activities implemented according to plans, on schedules and meet quality requirements

Reporting at the conference, VUFO Vice President-General Secretary Phan Anh Son said, as the world and the region continue to witness complicated and unpredictable developments, increasing in both level and scale, people-to-people foreign affairs have received close attention, direction, and favorable conditions from the leaders of the Party and State, and the close coordination of central and local ministries and agencies. The perception of a part of leaders at central and local agencies, ministries, departments, and units has changed positively about the role and position of people-to-people diplomacy.

In the first six months of 2023, VUFO and its member organizations have closely followed the approved foreign affairs plan; flexible and proactive in organizing the implementation of arising and urgent foreign affairs activities at the request of the agencies. Activities are implemented in a practical, in-depth, and effective direction, ensuring the requirements of politics - foreign affairs, reception, and external information, and are appreciated by domestic and international friends and partners. Messages in external activities are always clearly expressed or subtly integrated into activities. The tasks of visiting, maintaining connections, and communicating with friends and partners are carried out regularly in many forms and through many different channels, through which to grasp the situation of public opinion of friends and partners about Vietnam.

Standing Committee of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations for the 2019-2024 tenure (Photo: Thu Ha).

Leaders of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations and its member organizations accompanied high-ranking delegations of the Party and State to Laos, China, Cuba, Argentina, and Uruguay, proactively and responsibly advising on the contents and work programs, contributing to the success of the business trips and thereby promoting and consolidating friendship and cooperation with partners and the people in those countries. Within the framework of other countries' high-level delegations to Vietnam, VUFO presides over/coordinates in organizing reception activities and thoughtful and effective working sessions.

Foreign non-governmental work is actively implemented, maintaining regular connections and communications with organizations to understand the situation and assist them in solving difficulties and problems. Synchronously and effectively implementing the Commission's theme of 2023 "Reform Administrative Procedure," actively renewing aid mobilization methods, and expanding relations with a number of partners are among the Commission's important tasks. The strengthening of information technology applications, meeting the requirements of Decree 58/2022/ND-CP has contributed to the renewal of management methods and administrative reform in the implementation of tasks. As of June 30, there are 391 foreign NGOs operating in Vietnam (compared to 388 by the end of 2022).

The implementation of external information work is getting more professional with more in-depth information, initially exploiting the advantages of modern media, and bringing attractive media products to domestic and international readers.

Research and consulting work is carried out regularly with improvement in quality, focusing on specific research products.

The organization and construction of the system took place actively. The localities actively promoted and advised the leaders of their Party Committee/People's Committee to establish local member organizations and strengthen the close coordination between the central and local governments in implementing people-to-people diplomacy.

Vice President-General Secretary Phan Anh Son reported at the Conference (Photo: Thu Ha).

VUFO's focused contents in the last six months of 2023

Continue to carry out foreign affairs activities according to the approved plan. VUFO expects to organize 30 delegations from Vietnam, 25 delegations to Vietnam, and more than 400 activities, focusing on activities to celebrate diplomatic relations between Vietnam with other countries; celebrate the 70th anniversary of the Moncada victory in Ben Tre; 50 years of Cuban leader Fidel Castro's visit to Quang Tri.

Continue to actively and responsibly participate in multilateral people's forums: dialogue between AICHR and "civil society" organizations with advisory status with AICHR, preparation for participation in APF 2023, Japan Council against A & H Bombs.

Strengthen working with a number of large/potential foreign NGOs to discuss their activities to promote relations and enhance the effectiveness of aid mobilization through working groups and on-site activities. Closely coordinate with agencies to grasp the activities of foreign NGOs and disseminate and instruct to well implement Decree 58/2022/ND-CP and Decree 13/2023/ND-CP (come into effect from July 1, 2023).

Regarding research, consulting, training, workshops, and external information, focus on monitoring the world and regional situation, especially issues related to the situation in the Taiwan Strait, South China Sea, Ukraine, Myanmar, Mekong, ASEAN, elections in Thailand, and the reactions of people's organizations, "civil society" organizations, forums, multilateral people's cooperation mechanisms (APF, AEPF, United Nations....) for timely advice.

Actively organize talks and seminars on global and regional situations to exchange information on international events, assess and analyze advantages and difficulties that such situations posed to people-to-people foreign affairs.

Propaganda on people-to-people foreign affairs, making films and leaflets introducing VUFO; closely coordinate with news agencies, press, radio, and television stations to propagate foreign affairs in general and people-to-people diplomacy in particular.

Strengthen connections with localities, organize the delegation of VUFO leaders to visit and work with the Party Committee and People's Committees of the following provinces: Gia Lai, Kon Tum, An Giang - Kien Giang, Lang Son, Hung Yen. Actively support the development of member organizations in Ninh Thuan, Binh Thuan, Dien Bien, Lang Son.

Organize the VUFO's National Conference on People-to-people Relations in Quy Nhon, Binh Dinh from July 18-20, 2023.

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