VUFO President Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga speaks at the congress. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Union of FriendshipOrganisations (VUFO) has played a core role in people-to-people diplomacy, saidVUFO President, Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga while opening the union’s sixthcongress in Hanoi on December 5.
The congress aimed to review its operation during the 2013-2018 period and putforth orientations and tasks for 2019-2024. It saw the attendance of 46 ambassadors, charge d'affaires and representatives of foreign embassies inVietnam, along with representatives of 30 international and non-governmentalorganisations in Vietnam, among others.
Party General Secretary andPresident Nguyen Phu Trong, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Nganand Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc sent baskets of flowers to the event.
Nga laid stress on new requirements of people-to-people diplomacywork as well as the VUFO – a core force in the mission.
She called for opinions to map out operational orientations forthe union in order to make it stronger, contributing to the common goals of foreignrelations that are maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, maximisinginternational support and resources in service of national construction and defence,improving Vietnam’s position in the world arena and contributing to globalpeople’s movements for peace, justice, democracy and social progress.
Politburo member and permanent member of the Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong speaks at the congress. (Photo: VNA) Addressing the congress, Politburo member and permanent member ofthe Party Central Committee’s Secretariat Tran Quoc Vuong asked the union towork as a bridge between people-to-people diplomacy, and Party and Statediplomacy in order to create combined strength in the front.
He said over the past tenure, the VUFO and its memberorganisations have made significant achievements, contributing to enhancing thefriendship between Vietnamese people and those from countries worldwide,maintaining and consolidating a peaceful and stable environment, mobilisingexternal resources in service of national development and raising Vietnam’sposition and prestige, as well as the world people’s struggle for peace,national independence, democracy and social progress.
Pointing out limitations in their operation, Vuong suggested theunion expand multilateralisation and diversification, optimise the widespread supportof the international community for national construction and defence, focus onmaintaining and deepening the friendship between Vietnam and neighbouringcountries and others in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), keyareas and some socio-economic centres to protect the country’s interests,prestige and image in the world arena.
It needs to improve the efficiency of cooperation with foreignnon-governmental organisations and the quality of the mobilisation of foreignnon-governmental assistance, he said.
The official also highlighted the VUFO’s role in building andperfecting the State’s policies and laws on peace, solidarity, friendship andpeople-to-people cooperation.
He expressed his belief that the union will well perform its corerole in people-to-people diplomacy and reap greater achievements in 2020 whenVietnam serves as ASEAN Chair and non-permanent member of the United NationsSecurity Council.
On behalf of Party and State leaders, Vuong presented first-classLabour Order to the staff of the union in recognition of their outstandingperformance.
The congress elected a 19-member Standing Committee of the union withAmbassador Nguyen Phuong Nga retaining her position as VUFO President for thenew tenure of 2019-2024.
It was reported that with the VUFO’s efforts, up to 1.597 billionUSD in assistance from non-governmental organisations was disbursed from 2014to June 2019.
Vietnam has established relations with 1,171 organisations, ofwhich 501 have regularly operated in the country./.
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