Citizen diplomacy sees positive developments in 2022

The country fully reopened all activities and entered a period of recovery and growth after the COVID-19 pandemic was successfully brought under control. As a result, many people-to-people diplomacy activities have taken place actively via a direct platform.

Upon reviewing some major activities, Phan Anh Son, vice president and general secretary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), said that the Friendship Union successfully organized the 22nd Congress of the World Peace Council with the participation of nearly 100 delegates from 45 countries. This is along with 56 organisations based around the world and more than 100 delegates and guests from Vietnam.

According to the assessment given by the council's leaders and participants, since 1996 this can be considered the most successful congress in all aspects, with the political statement passed with a high consensus.

The successful organisation of the event duly helped to raise the position and prestige of the country in general, as well as the VUFO and the Vietnam Peace Committee in particular, as part of the world peace movement, various Communist Party organisations, and in the eyes of international friends.

The VUFO organized a broad array of diplomatic and friendship events alongside other countries, such as a series of activities held to celebrate the Year of Solidarity and Friendship between Vietnam and Laos, the 60th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations, and 45 years since the signing of the Treaty of Friendship and Cooperation between Vietnam and Laos. This is along with the Year of Friendship between Vietnam and Cambodia, the 55th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and Cambodia, the 50th anniversary of Vietnam-India diplomatic relations, the 45th anniversary of Vietnam–Spain, 30 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Republic of Korea (RoK), Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and Uzbekistan, as well as 10 years of comprehensive strategic partnership with Russia and a five-year comprehensive partnership with Canada.

Along with these ties, the VUFO launched International Friendship Exchange Programs alongside many foreign friendship associations.

Despite facing plenty of difficulties, foreign non-governmental work continued to be carried out in a more active and effective manner.

The VUFO reviewed the three years after carrying out the National Program on strengthening co-operation and mobilizing foreign non-governmental aid for the 2019 to 2025 period.

Accordingly, there were 490 NGOs operating in the country in 2020, 481 organizations in 2021, and 436 organizations in 2022.

The value of aid disbursed between 2020 and June, 2022, reached nearly US$562 in a number of fields such as health, education - training, natural resources - the environment, judicial support, socio-economic development society, and settlement of social problems.

Last year witnessed the VUFO honoured by being awarded the Certificate of Merit by the Prime Minister for outstanding achievements in its work in 2021, contributing to the cause of socialism building and national protection, to earn the Certificate of Merit for tremendous achievements in vaccine diplomacy in 2021.

Promoting people-to-people diplomacy for socio-economic development

At a conference held to review activities in 2022 and to carry out tasks of the VUFO ahead in 2023, Nguyen Phuong Nga, president of the VUFO, highlighted the promotion of citizen diplomacy to serve the country’s socio-economic development.

Accordingly, 2023 will see the whole Union system closely follow Party and State guidelines on domestic and foreign affairs in order to carry out external tasks and complete the proposed work plan, especially major events such as the 50th anniversary of the Paris Agreement which was signed in 1973, and an international friendship exchange held in Lao Cai.

Regarding peace, solidarity, and friendship work, the VUFO and its affiliated units have consolidated and expanded the partnership and application of information technology and digital transformation.

VUFO has therefore continued to implement the National Program on strengthening linkages and mobilising foreign non-governmental aid for the 2019 to 2025 period. This is along with implementing the Government's Decree on registration and management of the activities of foreign non-governmental organisations in Vietnam in order to competently mobilise resources for socio-economic development.

Foreign non-governmental work must be associated with targets for political and foreign affairs, a practical and effective aid mobilisation plan, and data building on aid needs.

The friendship union has strived to help raise public awareness of people-to-people diplomacy, propagated the country’s all-round achievements, and the nation’s stance on related issues. The union also moved to enhance the participation of member organisations in external information work, applying modern technology, and using multiple languages.

In addition, the union will also outline development orientations for 2030, foreign NGO work, and the people's movements globally.

It will strengthen the connection between the central and local unions with the aim of successfully organising the National Conference on People's External Relations in Binh Dinh province.