Association helps to forge Vietnam-US ties hinh anh 1The fifth congress of the Vietnam-US Friendship Association in Hanoi (Source: VNA)
 
Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam-US Friendship Association in Hanoi held its fifth congress in the capital city on September 9, putting forth a range of measures to improve its operational efficiency during 2017-2022.

Accordingly, the association will focus on strengthening the organisation and operation of its executive board and chapters, along with increasing communications work as well as cultural and artistic exchanges.

The association will coordinate with US partners to organise activities marking major events of the two countries and strengthen its ties with the US Embassy in Vietnam.

At the same time, the association will team up with relevant municipal departments and agencies to help Hanoi authorities select suitable US cities to expand friendly ties and economic links.

Other tasks set for the association in the new tenure include promoting Hanoi’s potential and investment opportunities, and seeking US donations for social and humanitarian projects in the city.

Addressing the congress, Molly Stephenson, Counsellor for Public Relations at the US Embassy, applauded the association’s efforts in promoting relations between Vietnam and the US and their people.

She highlighted the increasing number of Vietnamese students in the US, from 800 in 1995 to 31,000 at present, saying that it demonstrates the fruitful relationship between the two countries.

The congress elected a 27-member executive board for the 2017-2022 term headed by Nguyen Hong Son, Director of the Hanoi Institute for Socio-Economic Studies.

Established on May 21, 1996, the Vietnam-US Friendship Association in Hanoi has 19 chapters with 2,000 members. -VNA
VNA