Vice National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan has emphasised the importance of speeding up solidarity, friendship and cooperation between Vietnamese people and others in the region and the world.

While attending a meeting of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) in Hanoi on July 30, Ngan spoke highly of the union’s role and its members’ activities, especially in protecting the country’s sacred sovereignty.

VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong said that in the remaining months of this year, the union will continue promoting people-to-people exchange, supporting foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in their fact-finding tours, and implementing activities to safeguard the national sovereignty and ensure peace, security and stability in the region.

According to the union, many international NGOs have pledged to continue assistance for Vietnam in health, education, community development and response to climate change. In the first six months of 2014, about 80 million USD provided for Vietnam by NGOs were disbursed.-VNA