The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and its members will continue the task of boosting people-to-people diplomacy in order to expand and diversify the friendship and cooperation with people in other nations.
VUFO Chairman Vu Xuan Hong has told the press on the key tasks of the people-to-people diplomacy in the coming time on the thresholds of the union’s fifth National Congress to be held in Hanoi on December 30.
According to the Chairman, the Congress which will discuss orientation for the next five years (2013-2018), takes place at an important moment of the country.
The Party and State’s external relations have been implemented synchronously and comprehensively, contributing to maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development, he said.
The country has paid attention to deepening ties with neighbouring and regional countries, consolidating the relations with traditional friends, maintaining positive relationship with strategic partners and creating new developments in its cooperation with large partners.
At the time the country is integrating intensively and extensively into the international community, people-to-people relations have been expanded at all levels and sectors, he noted.
The Chairman also stressed the importance of people-to-people diplomacy in the country’s external policy.
From 2008 to June 2013, the VUFO mobilised 1.4 billion USD from international NGOs to implement 15,000 projects and programmes on such issues as poverty reduction, sustainable community development, health care, education, environmental protection and emergency aid, he said.
The union will continue to implement a national programme to mobilise assistance from NGOs in the 2013-2017 period, consolidate the relationship with those who are conducting projects in Vietnam and expand relations with potential NGOs for further financial support, Hong added.-VNA
