Dong Huy Cuong, director general of the VUFO's Multilateral Affairs Department presented at the conference.

Thousands of friendship activities

On April 12, at the conference on the tasks of people-to-people diplomacy in 2022, Dong Huy Cuong, director general of the VUFO's Multilateral Affairs Department said:

"We need to boost the role of friendship organizations in building a positive and favorable social foundation. This is to strengthen the relationship and improve the efficiency of cooperation with the peoples of the countries".

Dong Huy Cuong said that throughout the long history of Vietnam's revolution, people-to-people diplomacy, together with Party and State diplomacy, have made important contributions to the revolutionary cause of our country. This contributes to mobilizing the support of the people of the world.

That valuable support was an important motivation for Vietnam to overcome difficulties during the two long wars of resistance, the period of siege, embargo, and renovation.

In the new context, with the goal of being flexible, creative and effective, people-to-people diplomacy is continuing to contribute to the construction and defense of the Fatherland.

Together with the Vietnamese Fatherland Front, political and social organizations, people's organizations, VUFO and member organizations have constantly made efforts to support and strengthen cooperation relations between the people of Vietnam and other countries.

According to Dong Huy Cuong, with 60 friendship associations with countries and regions at the central level, hundreds of friendship associations in localities, Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) has organized thousands of activities.

These activities include commemorative activities, exhibitions, contests to learn about Vietnam's diplomatic relations with other countries; people-to-people exchanges, talks and dialogues.

"These activities contribute to strengthening the friendship between peoples of countries, education for the Vietnamese people about international solidarity, and introducing the image of the country and Vietnamese people. They also contribute to the protection of national interests; handling sensitive issues in bilateral relations, creating a favorable atmosphere for relations between Vietnam and other countries to develop stably," said Dong Huy Cuong.

The 6th Congress of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations set out the direction, tasks and action plan in the new period from 2019 to 2024. Photo: dangcongsan.vn

Role of people-to-people diplomacy

The presentation of the representative also drew some lessons from VUFO's people-to-people diplomacy activities.

The discussion emphasized the comprehensive leadership and direction of the Party for people-to-people diplomacy particularly and foreign affairs.

The relationship between the three pillars of foreign relations (Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy) should be an organic relationship with close coordination from the guidelines and viewpoints to the organization of activities.

In 2021, VUFO has contributed to major foreign activities of the Party and State. That partly shows the effectiveness of the coordination between the three pillars of foreign policy.

People-to-people diplomacy needs to foster its strength in flexibility so that it can support Party and State diplomacy in solving and removing complex and sensitive issues in the relationship between Vietnam and other countries.

It should pay attention to maintaining relations with the traditional people's forces, constantly expanding with friends and partners.

People-to-people diplomacy needs to be sincere, trustworthy, and care about the interests of the nation, friends and partners.

Aware of the role and importance of people-to-people diplomacy, VUFO and its member organizations will make more efforts to improve the quality of work, so that people-to-people diplomacy can truly become a pillar in comprehensive and modern diplomacy.

People-to-people diplomacy, together with Party and State diplomacy, contributes to the creation and maintenance of a peaceful and stable environment. They also mobilize resources to build and develop the country, improve the country's prestige and position," said Dong Huy Cuong.

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