The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) held a ceremony in Hanoi on November 17 to mark its 64th traditional day (November 17, 1950-2014).

Addressing the event, VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong reviewed the important contributions of generations of officials involving in people-to-people diplomacy to building the nation and implementing the Party and State’s foreign policy.

He asked those in charge to promote their tradition and ceaselessly improve their political stuff and professional knowledge in order to fulfill tasks set for the new period.

Former Vice President Nguyen Thi Binh hailed the VUFO as one of the three forces that constitute the Vietnamese diplomacy.

The union’s people-to-people diplomacy activities contributed to forming an international front for solidarity with Vietnam during its struggles for national independence in the past as well as to its current national construction and defence, she said.

At the event, several VUFO units and individuals were honoured for their active contributions to people-to-people diplomacy.

The VUFO and its 111 member organisations play a key role in strengthening friendship and boosting cooperation between the people of Vietnam and other countries, as well as actively encouraging partners and international friends to support, cooperate, assist and protect Vietnam in the cause of industrialisation, modernisation and national development and defence.-VNA