(VNF) - The Vietnam-Uzbekistan Friendship Association (VUFA) convened its fifth national congress for the 2018-2023 term in Hanoi on October 14 to discuss ways to strengthen the solidarity and friendship between the two nations.

At the congress. (Photos: MP/VNF)

Attending the Congress were Don Tuan Phong, Vice President in-charge and General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO); Luong Phan Cu, VUFA Chairman; Le Van Nghia, Honorary Consul of the Republic of Uzbekistan in Vietnam; representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Central Commission for External Relations, Ministry of Justice, Ministry of Home Affairs; representatives from the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association, the Vietnam - Belarus Friendship Association, the Vietnam - Ukraine Friendship Association; VUFA’s members, etc.

Ishanxodjaev Kamoliddin Nuriddinovich, Vice Chairman of the Uzbekistan Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Ties with Foreign Countries; Mukhamedov Alisher Rustamovich, General Secretary of the Uzbekistan-Vietnam Friendship Association also attended the congress.

Luong Phan Cu reported the results of VUFA’s operations in the 2013-2018 period and the work plan for the 2018-2023 tenure.

Established in 1996, the association has contributed greatly to promoting the traditional friendship, mutual understanding and cooperation between the two countries of Vietnam and Uzbekistan.

During the past tenure, the VUFA, consisting of over 300 members nationwide, had made efforts to persify external activities and boost relations between the Vietnamese and Uzbek people via the communications work and the exchange of delegations as well as various cooperation and people-to-people activities.

Setting goals for the new tenure, participants agreed that the association should play a more active part in launching activities and implement deals signed with its Uzbekistani counterpart that include the exchange of visits, facilitation of trips by entrepreneurs from both countries, cultural cooperation and information sharing in order to expand the Vietnam-Uzbekistan traditional ties and comprehensive cooperation.

New tasks mentioned at the congress included building its cooperation plan and programme for 2018-2023 and an annual cooperation plan with the Uzbekistan-Vietnam Friendship Association, and spreading information on Vietnam among Uzbek people through delegation exchanges, economic partnerships, and cultural and tourism exchanges.

The VUFA’s 51-member executive committee for 2018-2023 term.

The congress elected a 51-member executive committee for 2018-2023 term, with Luong Phan Cu, former Vice Chairman of the National Assembly’s Committee for Social Affairs, was re-elected Chairman of the association.

Lauding the VUFA’s performance and agreeing with its new tasks, VUFO Vice President Don Tuan Phong suggested a number of measures to step up people-to-people diplomacy with Uzbekistan in the coming time.

He said the association should focus on supporting the development of trade-investment partnerships between the two countries’ enterprises, persifying its activities, expanding membership and seeking more partners to increase its effectiveness, and promoting Vietnam’s images among Uzbek people.

VUFA members and Vietnamese people should also get frequent updates on Uzbekistan and its relations with Vietnam, he noted.

Phong has expressed his hope that the Vietnam-Uzbekistan Friendship Association will persify its people-to-people diplomatic activities to deepen cooperation between the two countries.

On behalf of the VUFO, Phong presented merit certificates to the association and inpiduals in honour of their active contributions to the association’s activities.

Speaking at the congress, Ishanxodjaev Kamoliddin Nuriddinovich, Vice Chairman of the Uzbekistan committee for friendship and cooperation with foreign countries, said the Uzbek people always stand side-by-side with their Vietnamese counterparts in order to push up bilateral cooperation across all spheres.

The relationship and cooperation between Vietnam and Uzbekistan was to be maintained, strengthened and developed in politics, economics and culture, he said, emphasising that economic cooperation was not commensurate with the potential of the two countries. In the following time, the two sides should foster ties in many fields, especially in tourism and trade.

He also briefed his hosts on the Committee on Interethnic Relations and Friendly Ties with Foreign Countries which under the Cabinet of Ministers of the Republic of Uzbekistan. The committee is entrusted to represent the interests of national cultural centers and friendship societies in state authorities, coordinate their activities, and assist in preserving and developing distinctive traditions of nations and nationalities living in Uzbekistan, as well as further strengthening of friendly relations of Uzbekistan with other countries.

On the occasion, the Uzbekistan-Vietnam Friendship Association received a Friendship Order bestowed by the Vietnamese President for its contributions to two countries' friendship and solidarity in the past time.

Also, the VUFA awarded to 30 young winners in the painting contest on bilateral relations. The Uzbekistan-Vietnam Friendship Association mounted an exhibition on charming Uzbek landscape and people./.

VNF