Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made this remark during a working session with the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) in Hanoi on June 4.

Reaffirming that developing people-to-people diplomacy is a sound policy of the Party and State, PM Dung said it has helped promote Vietnam’s image to international friends.

He asked the VUFO to uphold its achievements and associate people-to-people diplomacy with State diplomacy to create a peaceful and stable environment for socio-economic development.

VUFO President Nguyen Xuan Hong said the Union has developed well over the years, contributing significantly to the nation’s Renewal (Doi Moi) process.

With 97 member organizations nationwide, the VUFO has successfully established a network of international partners around the globe, especially in important regions, he said, adding that it has also initiated activities to promote peace, solidarity, friendship, and cooperation through people-to-people diplomacy.

Since 1992, the VUFO has mobilized and disbursed nearly US$3 billion in foreign non-governmental aid to deal with war aftermath, reduce poverty, settle social issues, develop the economy, protect the environment and natural resources, and provide relief aid for natural disaster-hit regions.

However, he said, there remain shortcomings in the Union’s operation, especially its external affairs.