​On July 7, in Cao Bang, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations in collaboration with the Provincial Party Committee and People's Committee of Cao Bang province held the National Conference on people – to – people diplomacy in 2022.

A view of the National Conference on people – to – people diplomacy in 2022 (Photo: TC Vietnam Times)

At the Conference, there was the attendance  of leaders of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations: Ms. Nguyen Phuong Nga - General Secretary of the Party Union, President of the Union; Mr. Phan Anh Son - Vice President, General Secretary of the Union; Mr. Nguyen Van Doanh, Vice President of the Union; and more than 200 delegates from 66 Central member organizations, 52 Unions of friendship organizations in provinces and cities; leaders of departments, agencies and officials of the Standing Agency of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations.

Regarding the representatives of Cao Bang province, there were: Mr. Trieu Dinh Le -  Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Mr. Hoang Van Thach - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Mr. Le Hai Hoa - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee; Mr. Dam Van Eng - Former Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Union of Friendship Organizations of Cao Bang Province.

In addition, there were representatives of central and local departments and agencies, and press agencies.

Mr. Trieu Dinh Le - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the People's Council of Cao Bang province gave a speech (Photo: TC Vietnam Times).

Addressing the Conference, Mr. Trieu Dinh Le - Standing Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee, Chairman of the Provincial People's Council emphasized: People – to - people diplomacy has a very important position and role for the development of the country and of each locality. It is one of the three pillars of the country's foreign affairs. It is a great pleasure for Cao Bang province to be the host for the national conference on people – to – people diplomacy. And this is a very good opportunity for Cao Bang to exchange and learn valuable experiences of friendship organizations from the central government and localities throughout the country on people – to - people diplomacy activities as well as the implementation of the tasks of socio-economic development, national defense and security, the building of the Party and political system in the localities.

President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Phuong Nga gave the opening speech (Photo: TC Vietnam Times)

President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Phuong Nga delivered the opening speech and emphasized that the 2022 National Conference on People – to – people diplomacy has the task of thoroughly propandizing the Direction of the Party and State leaders, especially Directive 12-CT/TW on improving the quality and effectiveness of people – to - people diplomacy in the new situation; discussing and presenting opinions on the Draft of Action Program to implement Directive 12 and the Report on solutions to strengthen coordination work in the system of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, including building organizational model of the Friendship Unions in localities; proposing solutions on the contents and methods of implementing activities in the fields of peace, solidarity, friendship, cooperation for further development, foreign non-governmental affairs, external information, overseas Vietnamese affairs.

According to Ms. Nguyen Phuong Nga, over the past time, the whole system of Friendship Organizations from the central to local authorities have actively implemented the Resolution of the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Directive No. 38-CT/TW dated September 19, 2019 of the Secretariat on continuing to innovate, promote the role, improve the quality and effectiveness of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, the Resolution of the 6^th  Congress of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; strongly innovated, achieved many positive results, recognized by leaders of the Party, State, agencies, ministries, sectors and localities. However, there are still many shortcomings, limitations and challenges in implementing people – to - people diplomacy as well as strengthening, building and developing the organization. Therefore, the conference is an opportunity for delegates to promote their wisdom and sense of responsibility to focus, actively exchange and share experiences, and contribute practical initiatives to make a success of the first National Conference, which starts a new method, making a new mark in the development of the system of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations.

Mr. Phan Anh Son - Vice President, General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations is speaking (Photo: TC Vietnam Times)

At the Conference, Mr. Phan Anh Son - Vice President, General Secretary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations reported to the delegates on the foreign policy stated at the 13th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Directive 12-CT/TW, the Directives and Resolutions of the Party and State on people - to - people diplomacy, and tasks of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations.

Mr. Phan Anh Son also reviewed the highlights of the world situation in the past 6 months, the trends in the world and the region, including the trend of peace, cooperation and development which is still the key aspiration of most countries in the world.

Mr. Phan Anh Son emphasized that the current goal of Vietnam's people – to - people diplomacy is to strengthen solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the Vietnamese people and the world's people; maintain a peaceful and stable environment, mobilize external resources for national development; promote foreign affairs, deep and comprehensive international integration; improve the position and prestige of the country; serve the interests of the nation; contribute to the common movements of the people in the world.

Mr. Nguyen Van Doanh - Vice President of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (Photo: TC Vietnam Times)

Presenting solutions to improve the effectiveness of coordination work in the system, organizational model and apparatus of the Union of Friendship Organizations in localities, Mr. Nguyen Van Doanh - Vice President of the Union of Friendship Organizations Vietnam sets out three goals:

Develop a synchronous and consistent coordination mechanism among the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the central and local member organizations; among the Central Friendship Associations and the Local Friendship Associations;

Striving to establish Union of Friendship Organizations in all the remaining provinces and cities until the end of the sixth term;

Unify the organizational model and apparatus of Unions of Friendship Organizations in the localities throughout the country in the following direction: Unions of Friendship Organizations in the localities must be assigned specialized civil servants, payroll, working funds; guaranteed working conditions; Unions of Friendship Organizations in the localities has advisory and specialized divisions.

On this occasion, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations awarded social security value to Cao Bang province, including: 10 charitable houses worth 700 million VNĐ, gifts worth 500 million VNĐ, scholarships worth 10,000 USD for poor students in the province.

In the afternoon of the same day, the delegates conducted a group discussion to share information and experiences, propose new ideas, and solutions to strengthen the organizational apparatus and improve the effectiveness of the operation of people to people diplomacy.