Friendship organisations to foster ties with foreign individuals, NGOs

Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) will continue expanding its relations with prestigious foreign individuals and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), its presidium members said on January 14.

At the third meeting of the VUFO presidium in the 2013-2018 tenure, participants said the union will keep working on the national programme on encouraging foreign non-governmental assistance, and actively carry out projects supported by foreign NGOs.

Another mission is to intensify Vietnam ’s solidarity and cooperation with foreign partners and countries and to actively take part in major multilateral forums.

Meanwhile, the East Sea issue will remain a focus of the union’s communication activities serving external relations, the meeting heard.

VUFO Chairman Vu Xuan Hong underlined fruitful people-to-people diplomacy last year, noting that his union coordinated with the Vietnamese people’s organisations and actively engaged in activities within the framework of the ASEAN People’s Forum and the Asia-Europe People’s Forum.

The VUFO worked to win over the public’s support in matters on democracy, human rights, religion, maritime sovereignty and Agent Orange. Its communication efforts helped enhance the Vietnamese people’s collaboration with their foreign peers and assisted the Party and State’s diplomatic work, he said.

As the standing agency of the Committee for Foreign NGO Affairs, the VUFO also worked with the committee’s subordinate bodies, ministries, sectors and localities to effectively mobilise, manage and use foreign NGOs’ assistance.

Foreign NGOs disbursed nearly 300 million USD in financial aid for Vietnam in 2015, Hong added.-VNA