VUFO and Vietnamese Representative agencies abroad Strengthening coordination

Speaking at the meeting, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Nguyen Ngoc Hung mentioned that in 2024, the global people's movement is expected to grow and diversify, although its trend is difficult to predict. He noted that competition among major countries could create divisions within people's organizations. While VUFO's partners are widespread and diverse, they are also aging, making it challenging to attract younger partners. Therefore, VUFO must quickly adapt to new trends in the global people's movement to fulfill the tasks assigned by the Party and State.

For 2024, VUFO has set key tasks. The first is consolidating the organizational system from the central to local levels, enhancing coordination and information sharing, and improving staff quality. Secondly, it needs to innovate the thinking, approaches, methods, and content of people's foreign affairs activities; proactively advising, recommending, preparing, and participating in high-level foreign affairs activities of the Party and State.
 

In 2024, VUFO organized 37 outgoing delegations, welcomed 24 incoming delegations, and held over 1,000 on-site foreign affairs activities. These diverse activities were well-received by international friends and member organizations. People-to-people foreign affairs were actively pursued through participation in regional and international events and forums. VUFO also coordinated effectively with relevant agencies in foreign non-governmental work, securing more than 200 million USD in annual aid from foreign non-governmental organizations, which supports socio-economic development and promotes Vietnam's image internationally.

Research and advisory work have been enhanced recently, with continuous innovation in the content and form of foreign information activities. VUFO regularly engages with the Vietnamese community abroad through business trips and actively builds relationships with international partners, including government agencies, research institutes, universities, and individuals, with a particular focus on economic diplomacy.

According to Nguyen Ngoc Hung, VUFO's Vice President, 2024 saw many breakthroughs, innovations, and steps toward sustainable development, achieved through close coordination between Vietnamese representative agencies abroad.

Looking ahead to 2025, VUFO will organize the 7th National Congress of Delegates for the 2025-2030 term, focusing on people-to-people diplomacy, commemorative activities for major national holidays, and anniversaries of diplomatic relations. VUFO will continue to strengthen its organizational structure, review partners and areas of cooperation, enhance research and advisory work, and organize the 5th International Conference with foreign non-governmental organizations.
 

Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), expressed gratitude to the heads of Vietnamese representative agencies abroad for their attendance. He acknowledged the complex global situation and the evolving nature of people-to-people diplomacy, emphasizing the significant effort required to maintain and expand partnerships. VUFO hopes that Ambassadors and Consuls General will prioritize people-to-people diplomacy, continue to coordinate closely with VUFO, establish regular online meetings, actively exchange information and proposals, and introduce new partners. These efforts will strengthen relations and mobilize support from international friends for Vietnam.

Phan Anh Son is confident that in their upcoming term, Ambassadors and Consuls General will actively foster friendly relations and cooperation between Vietnam and other countries, thereby contributing effectively to overall diplomacy and particularly to people-to-people diplomacy.
 

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Do Hung Viet, who also serves as Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary and Permanent Representative of Vietnam to the United Nations, commended the strong cooperation between the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO). He expressed confidence in the continued development of this partnership.

Deputy Minister Do Hung Viet emphasized the integral role of people-to-people diplomacy in Vietnam's overall diplomatic efforts. To enhance coordination between state and people-to-people diplomacy, he proposed that: Firstly, it is necessaryb to increase the involvement of people-to-people diplomacy in high-level diplomatic activities. He stressed the importance of early and close cooperation between foreign agencies to ensure effective coordination. Secondly, beyond mobilizing support from people's organizations and non-governmental organizations for initiatives like hunger eradication, poverty reduction, and economic development, it is essential to expand partnerships in emerging areas such as digital transformation and green transformation. Thirdly, agencies in the diplomacy sector need to seek new core supporters for movements backing Vietnam and promote the image of a renewed Vietnam to international friends.

During the meeting, Vietnamese Ambassadors and Consuls General abroad shared updates on the cooperation between Vietnam and other countries. They also suggested solutions to further enhance people-to-people exchanges between Vietnam and various localities and regions.