President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Vu Xuan Hong has praised contributions made by the Committee for Solidarity and Cooperation with Asia, Africa and Latin America to promote Vietnam’s image, position and role in regional and international forums.

VUFO President Hong also lauded the committee’s contributions to the world’s movements for social progress and equality, and sustainable development while speaking at the committee’s sixth congress in Hanoi on August 23.

He urged the committee to build on its position and role in people-to-people diplomacy and expand the network of partners in order to enhance links with organisations and people worldwide, especially those in Asia, Africa and Latin America.

The VUFO President required the committee to pay more attention to research work while seeking opportunities for co-organising symposiums in a bid to enrich its research, forecast and analyse national, regional and international issues.

The committee was asked to take a more active part in training young officials and consolidating ties with committees and members of the VUFO.

He said over the past five years, the committee, in its capacity as a member of the VUFO, has participated in a range of activities to promote people-to-people diplomacy at national, regional and international levels.

Hong cited the committee’s presence in the ASEAN People’s Forum and the Asia-Europe People’s Forum during the 2008-2013 tenure, especially its support for Laos to organise the ninth Asia-Europe People’s Forum last year.

While maintaining the relationship with the Afro-Asian People’s Solidarity Organisation (AAPSO) in Egypt and other traditional partners such as the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation and the Lao Committee for Peace and Solidarity, the committee has also made all-out efforts to seek new partners, including several people’s organisations in Cambodia.

Notably, the committee has called for support from international friends to help in AO-related issues, democracy and human rights in Vietnam.

The congress elected a new 17-member executive board for the 2013-2018 tenure with Pham Van Chuong re-elected as President.-VNA