Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, Party Secretary, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations delivered a speech at the 71st Anniversary of the Traditional Day

On November 17, 1950, at the Viet Bac War Zone, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to the first conference to establish the World Peace Protection Committee of Vietnam (now the Vietnam Peace Committee). This day has become the Traditional Day of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), the specialized force of Vietnamese people-to-people relations.

Commemorating this historic event, we express our gratitude to the Great President Ho Chi Minh, who directly laid the foundation and led the Vietnamese people's foreign affairs. Right from the 20s of the last century, when finding a way to save the country, he focused on mobilizing international solidarity, people in the world to support the Vietnamese people in struggle for national independence. Immediately after the success of the August Revolution, President Ho Chi Minh directed the establishment of Vietnam's first organization specialized in people-to-people diplomacy.

VUFO officers and employees participated in the 71st Anniversary of the Traditional Day taking place on the morning of November 16, 2021

Under the wise leadership of the Party and Uncle Ho, people-to-people diplomacy has gradually matured, becoming an important part of foreign affairs. It has also joined our army and people to protect the revolutionary government, fight for victory in the nation's two long resistance wars against colonialism and imperialism, to regain independence, peace and the country's reunification. Through the activities of friendship organizations and participation in the peace and democracy movement in the world, people-to-people diplomacy has established and developed relations with other countries, helping the world understand about our people's fight. Vietnam contributes to the world people's struggle for peace, national independence and social progress, leading to the creation of a large people's front, supporting the just struggle of Vietnam, an important factor of Vietnamese people's victory.

After the country's reunification, organizations of peace and friendship with the peoples of other countries have promoted the normalization of relations between Vietnam and foreign partners. They mobilized the support of the world's people for our people's work of overcoming the consequences of war and rebuilding the country.

Representative of the Executive Board of VUFO Youth Union spoke at the 71st Anniversary of the Traditional Day

Under the leadership of the Party, creatively applying Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on diplomacy, people-to-people diplomacy has made positive progress, foreign relations have been expanded, and activities have become more diversified. The forces participating in people-to-people diplomacy activities have been strengthened.

As a specialized force, VUFO, together with its member organizations at central and local levels, have implemented activities of peace, solidarity, friendship and people-to-people cooperation. The Union mobilizes Vietnamese compatriots abroad, strengthens solidarity with traditional friends, acquires many new partners, enlists international support and resources to serve the country's development. This contributes to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, protecting the independence and sovereignty of the Fatherland, enhancing Vietnam's position and contributing to the common struggle of the world's people.

With these achievements, VUFO has received noble awards from the Party and State, including the Ho Chi Minh Order twice. Many member organizations and many generations of officials of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations have received noble awards from our Party, State and other countries. On behalf of the leaders of the VUFO, I would like to express my sincere thanks for the great contributions to building the glorious tradition of people's diplomacy.

Recently, although the Covid pandemic has had a negative impact, causing difficulties for people-to-people diplomacy, VUFO has made efforts to innovate from the way it is organized, to the content and mode of operation. The Union actively applies information technology, combining online and in-person activities to maintain contact and connect with other countries, promote the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy, and achieve positive results.

The achievements of 35 years of renovation have increased the position and power of Vietnam. Our country is entering a new stage of strategic development, determined to successfully implement the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress, to successfully realize the goal of turning Vietnam into a high-income developed country with socialist orientation in the middle of this century.

However, the international and regional situation continues to be complicated, opening up many new opportunities, but also forcing our country to face many great difficulties and challenges. Those include economic and trade competition, powers' competition, natural disasters, climate change, and overcoming consequences of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The 13th Party Congress clearly defined "the pioneering role of foreign affairs is to create and maintain a peaceful and stable environment, mobilize external resources to develop the country, and enhance its position." At the same time, the Congress for the first time clearly stated the task of building a comprehensive and modern Vietnamese diplomacy with three pillars: Party diplomacy, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy.

To accomplish that task, VUFO needs to implement Programs and Action Plans for the Resolution of the 13th Party Congress, focusing on the following:

Consolidating and expanding the network of international friends on both bilateral and multilateral levels, conducting effective and substantive activities in the fields of peace, solidarity, friendship, and non-governmental work. The Union mobilizes people from other countries and overseas Vietnamese to unite and support Vietnam.

Providing information, helping people around the world and our overseas compatriots understand the country, people, traditions, history and culture of Vietnam. In addition, helping them understand the domestic and foreign policies of our Party and State, the achievements, fighting against false claims about Vietnam.

Improving the quality of research, forecasting and advising on formulating policies and guidelines of the Party and State, especially on people-to-people diplomacy.

Expanding networks and forces, building and socializing resources for people-to-people diplomacy. The Union helps to increase the participation of intellectuals, young people and businesses in people-to-people diplomacy.

Proud of the tradition of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, with the people-to-people diplomacy in the new situation, all leaders and staff of VUFO are determined to study and follow the ideology of President Ho Chi Minh, contributing to realizing the aspiration to build a strong and prosperous Vietnam.

On this occasion, I call on all professionals, civil servants, officials and members of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations to accomplish achievements to celebrate 71 years of VUFO Traditional Day with the following contents:

Work, be creative, unite, complete the tasks, contribute to the successful implementation of the 2022 mission of VUFO.

Participate in emulation movements launched by the Prime Minister and the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

Strictly abide by the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws, regulations of agencies, build solidarity units, professional working environment, promote the creative spirit of State's workers.

Congratulations to all member organizations and officials of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations on the 71st anniversary of our Traditional Day.

Provincial Union of Friendship Organizations Help Distribute Supplies to Serve Covid fight The results in the fight against the pandemic depend on the timely and enthusiastic support from organizations, businesses and individuals.

VUFO President Praises Vietnamese Women President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) emphasized Vietnamese women's contribution to the peacekeeping and diplomacy mission.

Friendship Association Sets to Tighten Vietnam - Indonesia ties Stepping up co-operation and people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and Indonesia took centre stage at orientations for the 2021-2026 term of the Vietnam - Indonesia Friendship ...