The conference aimed to exchange views on the coordination mechanisms between the two agencies in light of the evolving context and current situation. It also sought to strengthen linkages between VUFO’s departments and units and the various departments and divisions of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, thereby promoting synergy and enhancing the effectiveness of each agency’s external affairs efforts in support of the Party and State’s foreign policy.
Delegates reviewed the outcomes of VUFO’s work and its past coordination with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, while also discussing orientations and specific measures to improve coordination moving forward.
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| VUFO President Phan Anh Son speaks at the Conference. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
According to the reports presented at the conference, in recent times, amidst rapid, complex, and unpredictable global developments, people-to-people diplomacy organized by VUFO has achieved many positive results. These achievements have contributed to building a solid social foundation, enhancing the country’s international standing, strengthening people-to-people ties, mobilizing international resources effectively, and, together with Party and State diplomacy, forming a comprehensive foreign affairs front in service of national development and defense.
These successes were significantly supported by increasingly close and substantive collaboration between VUFO and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs across various domains, including policy advice, joint drafting of foreign affairs-related documents, people-to-people diplomacy, engagement with foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs), external communications, commendation efforts, and personnel matters. Moreover, current and former officials of the Ministry have actively participated in friendship associations under VUFO. Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad have also supported VUFO in connecting with and organizing programs for international friends.
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| Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van speaks at the Conference. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
In his concluding remarks, Deputy Minister Ngo Le Van commended the initiative to organize the conference, describing it as a meaningful activity given the current context. He congratulated VUFO on its organizational restructuring and affirmed its growing role, especially as it now also handles people-to-people diplomacy within the Vietnamese Fatherland Front system.
The Deputy Minister recognized VUFO’s important, effective, and responsible contributions in implementing the Party’s foreign policy, particularly through the people-to-people diplomacy channel. He noted that coordination between the two agencies had been smooth and close, without significant procedural or operational obstacles. However, he emphasized the need to further improve coordination quality, especially amid increasing workloads and certain legal provisions that have yet to fully align with practical needs.
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| Delegates discuss orientations and measures to enhance the effectiveness of coordination between the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the coming time. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
To enhance coordination, the Deputy Minister proposed that the two sides consider developing an appropriate cooperation mechanism, possibly in the form of agreements or annual plans, to foster greater information sharing and enable proactive, well-aligned implementation of people-to-people diplomacy tasks. He affirmed the Ministry’s readiness to work closely with VUFO in fulfilling their assigned functions and missions, while also wishing VUFO to continue to proactively propose solutions that can fully leverage the potential of people-to-people diplomacy in relations with specific partners.
In agreement with the Deputy Minister’s proposals, VUFO President Phan Anh Son suggested that both sides continue refining coordination mechanisms, establishing a joint working regulation, and strengthening information sharing and cooperation among specialized units to enhance the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy initiatives.
He requested the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to facilitate VUFO’s access to information about upcoming visits, high-level delegations, and major external affairs activities of the Party and State. This would allow VUFO to make timely and appropriate preparations through its people-to-people diplomacy channel. He also emphasized the importance of maintaining regular communication with the Ministry’s relevant units to improve advisory quality and effectively address arising issues.
Regarding foreign NGO work, VUFO President Phan Anh Son highlighted the need for a flexible approach tailored to the characteristics of people-to-people diplomacy, ensuring the implementation of new policies without disrupting the operations of foreign NGOs in Vietnam.
He further affirmed VUFO’s role in outreach and advocacy, especially in strategic locations, and proposed strengthening substantive coordination with Vietnamese diplomatic missions abroad. He stressed that VUFO would continue to serve as a key force in people-to-people diplomacy, contributing to effective integration among Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy.
Source: Vietnamtimes
