People-to-people Diplomacy Contributes to Local Poverty Eradication and Socio-economic Development

"In the first six months of 2023, Quang Nam received 44 aid grants (an increase of 17 grants compared to 2022) with a total value of VND 100 billion.

The statistics were presented by Tran Anh Tuan - Vice Chairman of the Quang Nam People's Committee, and President of Quang Nam Union of Friendship Organizations at the 2023 National Conference on People-to-people Diplomacy, which took place in Binh Dinh.

Tran Anh Tuan also said that Quang Nam Union of Friendship Organizations has actively and flexibly innovated appropriate advocacy methods, well-organized aid mobilization activities, and implemented many projects/non-projects meeting the set requirements.

World Vision Vietnam supports people in Ca Lai village, Ca Dy commune, Nam Giang district, Quang Nam province to access clean water. (Photo: World Vision Vietnam)

"Currently, the Quang Nam Union of Friendship Organizations is continuing to apply for approval of programs, projects/non-projects of foreign NGOs committed to sponsoring Quang Nam in the coming months with a total value of over VND 7.3 billion. The aid mainly focused on the fields of practical needs, scholarships, bicycles for students, clean water, construction of schools, health care, and disaster prevention. well as improving people's lives in Quang Nam, contributing to the good implementation of the province's social security work," added Tran Anh Tuan.

Sharing experiences on local cooperation, Le Cu - Vice Chairman of Dak Lak Union of Friendship Organizations said that Dak Lak (Vietnam) and Mondulkiri (Cambodia) have established comprehensive cooperation in foreign affairs, security, defense, and socio-economy. This relationship contributes to consolidating and constantly promotes the increasingly substantive solidarity between Vietnam and Cambodia, contributing to the successful implementation of the Party and State's foreign policy.

Notably, in terms of economic cooperation, some enterprises in Dak Lak have invested and developed hundreds of hectares of rubber trees in Mondulkiri, with an investment of tens of millions of USD. In addition to bringing economic efficiency, Dak Lak also contributes to helping Mondulkiri attract the labor force, create jobs and stable income for local workers. Vietnamese businesses also help Cambodian partners build roads, schools, medical stations, and markets, contributing to social security and improving people's lives in Cambodia.

Le Cu - Vice President of Dak Lak Union of Friendship Organizations spoke at the Conference. (Photo: Thu Ha)

According to Du Van Quang, Deputy Director of Phu Tho Department of Foreign Affairs, President of Phu Tho Union of Friendship Organizations, the Union directly campaigned, signed, and implemented the project "Supporting the Educational Environment" for five years with a total value of US $450,000 sponsored by KFHI in Thanh Thuy and Thanh Son district. Phu Tho Union cooperated with the province's Department of Foreign Affairs in mobilizing over 120,000 bottles of Canadian hand sanitizer (worth about VND 13 billion) from GNI/Republic of Korea; 1,000 level 4 protective suits and 20,000 N95 medical masks with a value of US $16,400 sponsored by LDSC/USA; and LAK 105 million (equivalent to VND 237 million) funds by Luang Namtha and Phongsaly (Laos) for Phu Tho.

Moving forward, Phu Tho Union of Friendship Organizations will strengthen its access to and mobilize potential foreign NGOs suitable to the province's aid mobilization needs; strive to bring foreign non-governmental projects to disadvantaged groups in the province such as orphans, helpless elderly people, people with disabilities, people with extremely difficult circumstances.

According to the People's Aid Coordination Committee ( PACCOM , a unit of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations), over the past time, many local Unions of Friendship Organizations have actively developed programs/projects and worked as direct partners in implementing foreign non-governmental projects. Through PACCOM's connection, many local Unions are ready to act as the focal point emergency point to receive and coordinate local and one-time aid and have achieved positive results.

According to the statistics of the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations, from 2020 to 2022, 45 local Unions of Friendship Organizations have directly participated in implementing 429 long-term projects, emergency aid activities, and one-time charity shipments with a total disbursed budget of about US $15 million. Although most of the programs and projects jointly developed and implemented by the local Unions are small and medium-sized with charitable and humanitarian nature, their participation has shown their proactive spirit, thereby contributing to helping staff improve their professional qualifications, gain a better understanding of methods of project implementation combining with inspection and monitoring, contribute to strengthening the role of the Unions in the relations, advocacy,

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