President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga affirmed that during a recent interview with reporters.
Recalling achievements in 2022, VUFO President evaluated that the people-to-people diplomacy had a very successful year. Most of the big tasks set for the year were achieved. People-to-people diplomacy activities were intensively and effectively implemented through diverse forms and contents, meeting all set requirements.
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VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga |
Last year, foreign relations activities focused on neighboring countries, important partners, and traditional friends. VUFO participated and hosted many outstanding bilateral and multilateral activities with different forms and scales. Notably, activities within the Vietnam - Laos, Laos - Vietnam Solidarity and Friendship Year 2022 and the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Year 2022 contributed to further cultivating and consolidating the relationship between Vietnam and the two close neighbors.
Multilaterally, Vietnam successfully organized the 22nd Assembly of the World Peace Council. That was the first time Vietnam had hosted such a large event of the World Peace Council, thereby showing the country's active and responsible contribution to the activities of the council in particular and the world peace movement in general.
In the year, Vietnam exerted utmost efforts to overcome the difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic to further strengthen relations with other countries in the new condition. Many meaningful activities were held in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and India, the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam - Austria's diplomatic relations, and the 30th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea. These activities have contributed to expanding and promoting solidarity, friendship, and people-to-people cooperation in a deeper, more substantive and effective manner.
The close relationship between the central agencies and localities was also considered another success of the people-to-people diplomacy work. In the year, friendship and peace activities were organized not only in central friendship agencies and organizations, but also in localities, provinces, and cities across the country.
The year 2022 was the first year to implement Directive No.12-CT/TW on "Strengthening the Party's leadership, enhancing the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy in the new situation." Therefore, VUFO and its member organizations tried to make people-to-people diplomacy activities more practical and closer to the development goals of the country.
In the year, as an agency in charge of mobilizing non-governmental organizations (NGOs), VUFO strived to update them on Vietnam’s guidelines, policies, and legal framework on NGOs’ activities and remove difficulties for NGOs to operate in Vietnam in the context that the whole world is recovering from COVID-19. Despite difficult conditions, NGO aid mobilization yielded positive results with a total value of more than USD 200 million.
The VUFO President said that in 2022, countries in the world faced numerous difficulties, including complicated development of domestic and international situation, geopolitics, fierce strategic competition among major powers, the risk of economic crisis, disruption of global supply chains, and inflation. In that context, Vietnam’s people-to-people diplomacy was strongly affected.
She said that maintaining cooperative relations and finding a common voice have become prerequisites, requiring Vietnam to be firm in stance and consistent in foreign policy of the Party and State.
Nguyen Phuong Nga said that the most valuable experience from last year’s task implementation is thoroughly grasping and creatively and flexibly applying the Party's foreign policies, especially the guidelines in the 13th National Party Congress. The people-to-people diplomacy must be harmoniously implemented to not only meet national interests, but also contribute to the common interests of humanity, for advancement, justice, and sustainable development.
She emphasized the need to promote the coordination among three pillars of foreign relations, namely Party diplomacy, state diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy. Bringing into play the synchronous strength of organizations in charge of people-to-people diplomacy work from central to local levels and personnel training should be paid attention to.
Regarding missions in 2023, the VUFO President said that the theme of VUFO’s activities is “people-to-people diplomacy serves socio-economic development.” The Party and State considers 2023 the pivotal year to implement the 5-year socio-economic development plan in the 2021-2025 period as well as the Resolution of the 13th National Party Congress. It is also a decisive year for the efforts of socio-economic recovery and development, economic restructuring, and changing in growth model towards green and sustainable development.
As one of the pillars in foreign relations, the people-to-people diplomacy’s task is building and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, mobilizing external resources for national development, and raising Vietnam's international prestige and position. Deeply aware of the mission, VUFO’s priority is to continue to enhance the practicality and effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy work.
This year, there are numerous celebrations to mark the establishment of the diplomatic ties between Vietnam and other countries. This is an opportunity for the country to further foster the relationship with people around the world, strengthen cooperation, and mobilize resources to contribute to socio-economic recovery and development in the post-pandemic time.
Translated by Tran Hoai