(VNF) - “Enhancing, expanding and deepening growth in terms of friend networks and international partners; actively participating in important multilateral institutions”, is one of the key missions in 2017 of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO).

The VUFO presidium of 2013-2018 tenure was conducted successfully on Dec 28. During the event, delegates participating in panel discussion reached consensus on a vision of diplomatic activities in 2017. In detail, VUFO needs to maintain and grow its friends and partners network in Europe, particularly traditional partners; fostering friendship exchange programs, widening cooperation and acting as a link to promote cooperation between sectors.

The Union is reminded to strengthen and expand external relation information channels, engaging in public outreach, expressing objection to the US on democracy and human rights issues; raising awareness on relief of war consequences; taking initiative in dialogue and public campaign; promoting solidarity relations and cooperation with the Cuban people, increasing exchange activities to reinforce mutual understanding between people in Vietnam and Asia, Africa and Latin America.

Deputy Chair, General Secretary of VUFO Don Tuan Phong (standing) speaking at the event (source: thoidai.com.vn)

The Union maintains its role as the linkage facilitating the participation of Vietnamese people organizations in multilateral people forum; expanding, bolstering and enhancing partnership relations, focusing on researching, forecasting and analyzing the international situation as well as its impacts on Vietnam with respect to politic, foreign affairs, economy, society; intensifying diplomatic activities to enhance national interest defense, concurrently contribute to the fight for peace, democracy, liberation, social progression and socialism.

Addressing the conference, Foreign Affairs Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc said, in the context of rapid and complicated change taking place internationally and in the region, people diplomacy of 2016 was deployed effectively, collaborated in tune with the Party and the State diplomacy, helped increase collective strength, and contributed to heighten the position of the country. Many activities have been conducted positively, advocating peace, solidarity, friendship and mutual cooperation between people from different countries.

Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc making his speech (source: thoidai.com.vn)

The Deputy Minister highlighted that achievements brought by people to people diplomacy in 2016 of VUFO were a significant contribution in enhancing and reinforcing the friendly relations between people in Vietnam and the region, traditional and international friends, leading to the progress of worldwide and regionwide people activity.

In addition, people to people diplomacy plays an important role in bringing the positive images of the country and its people to the world. It helps international friends gain insight into Vietnam’s achievement in economic, social and cultural development in our Reform journey. The Deputy Minister added that VUFO should actively participate in public propaganda in combating for and protecting the nation people’s interest, especially in sovereignty over sea and islands.

Deputy Minister Ha Kim Ngoc presenting bouquet to Mr. Vu Xuan Hong, former Chair of VUFO (source: thoidai.com.vn)

According to Mr.Ngoc, throughout the recent period, coordination between VUFO and the MOFA has led to significant achievements recorded in people to people diplomacy and State diplomacy, contributing to successful realization of diplomacy policy guided by the Party and the State. These works can be listed as: initiating people exchange and dialogue, cooperation, offering suggestions for the Party and State while participating in high-level transnational dialogues and forum; engaging in international public outreach for favourable policy for Vietnam, deepening and make cooperation more practical.

In addition, the Union is urged to continue to promote coordination between localities, unions, social-political organization, integrating people to people diplomacy in multilateral relations action plan as a key focus. These works will form a solid foundation for the State diplomacy, and increase trust and understanding in friendship among global people.

With the inspiration and lessons gained from past achievement and experiences, the guidance of the Party and the State and an effective coordination between people to people diplomacy and the Party, State diplomacy, VUFO – supported by a competent leading team, will definitely overcome all challenges and obstacles, become a helpful link between organizations, committee, enterprises, and localities of Vietnam and international friends.

“Optimize resources to holistically improve and synchronize reformation process, facilitate achieving goals in terms of national defense and development. MOFA will keep on standing by VNF’s side to successfully fulfil these missions.”

Chair of Vietnam Peace Committee Uong Chu Luu at the presidium (source: thoidai.com.vn)

Deputy Chair of the National Assembly, Chair of Vietnam Peace Committee Uong Chu Luu expressed agreement with the Summary report on Performance of 2016 of VUFO, as well as the vision for international relation activities in 2017. He also requests the Union to participate in more specific programs such as opinion-exchange forum, dialogues, and increasing IT application in disseminating information regarding the policy and vision of the Party and the State.

From his viewpoints, complications in the global and international environment are affecting people to people diplomacy. Under this circumstance, our people to people diplomatic activities have been conducted in a dynamic, creative, innovative and flexible manner; ensuring being friends with every country, an active member of the international community, based on a self-reliant, independent approach in foreign affairs. People to people diplomacy has been effectively and actively implemented, helped increase collective strength, raising the position of the country in the region and in the world.

Mr. Don Tuan Phong - Deputy Vice President of VUFO, General Secretary of VUFO presented bouquets to officers who will be leaving the executive committee office of the 5th tenure (source: thoidai.com.vn)

The executive committee also took this opportunity to express their appreciation and recognition to Mr. Vu Xuan Hong, former Chairman of VUFO and officers who will be leaving the executive committee office of the 5th tenure. They are inpiduals who have significant contributions to VUFO people to people diplomacy during recent years./.

Phi Yen