The Vietnam-Armenia Friendship Association (VAFA) made its debut on May 24, creating a foundation for people-to-people diplomacy between the two countries.

The association was introduced during a congress in Hanoi, which saw the participation of Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Nguyen Thi Hoang Van, Deputy Foreign Minister and head of the State Committee for Overseas Vietnamese Affairs Nguyen Thanh Son, and Armenian Ambassador to Vietnam Raisa Gareginovna.

In her speech at the event, Van said the formation of the association marks an important milestone in the relations between the two countries’ people and contributes to implementing the Vietnamese Party and State’s policy on people-to-people diplomacy.

In the coming time, the association will focus on establishing a partnership network on the basis of its current relations, while seeking and expanding links with new partners in Armenia, such as public organisations, enterprises, education and research institutions and universities, Van said.

She added that the VAFA will also pay attention to promoting foreign communication works to take advantage of solidarity and support for Vietnam in national defence, construction and development.

Ambassador Raisa expressed her belief that VAFA will make great contributions to setting direct ties in human resources development, trade and economic cooperation as well as boosting friendship and exchanges between the two peoples.

She also affirmed that her agency will do its utmost to further push the traditional friendship between her country and Vietnam.-VNA