International friends and foreign affairs experts contribute ideas to connect the Vietnamese people and the world

Expanding and promoting the effectiveness of the "Nurturing Friendship" program; people-to-people diplomacy to promote economic cooperation; increasing priority in solving issues of climate change, population aging, etc. are the suggestions of international friends, experts, and veteran diplomats, etc. to strengthen long-term cooperative and friendly relations between the Vietnamese people and international friends.

Mr. Rad Kivette, General Director of VinaCapital Foundation (USA):

Persistent companionship for Vietnamese healthcare and education

VinaCapital Foundation has been operating in Vietnam for nearly 20 years. I personally have been involved in Vietnam for about 25 years and our commitment is always dedicated to this country. What we do for Vietnam - for Vietnamese children and mothers, accompanying Vietnam, carrying out the tasks that they need our support.

Mr. Rad Kivette, General Director of VinaCapital Foundation (USA). (Photo: Thu Phuong)

We could not have achieved what we have achieved without the support of VUFO. We are one of the few NGOs that can operate in all 34 provinces and cities. The Foundation’s programs focus on primary health care , children’s arts, support for childhood cancer treatment and capacity building. We invest millions of dollars in medical equipment and training of district doctors nationwide, and implement projects in localities with the greatest need. Along with health, education is also a focus, especially supporting ethnic minority girls in rural areas to have the opportunity to learn and develop. We wish to continue to accompany VUFO to contribute our small part to Vietnam.

Mr. Kim Jae Chul, Chief Representative of COPION organization in Vietnam:

Need to facilitate visa procedures more

Mr. Kim Jae Chul, Chief Representative of COPION organization in Vietnam. (Photo: Thu Phuong)

COPION has been operating in Vietnam for 8 years, persistently pursuing its mission of supporting the education sector. During that time, COPION has carried out many practical activities, especially sending volunteer teams from Korea to serve in primary and secondary schools. These are not just simple business trips but also opportunities for volunteers to exchange cultures, understand more about local educational life and contribute to the development of the community.

COPION also focuses on supporting Vietnamese-Korean multicultural families through two centers in Hanoi and Hai Phong, where families are accompanied and supported promptly.

During the implementation of the activities, the organization also encountered some difficulties in the procedures for obtaining project permits and visas for foreign employees. COPION hopes to continue to receive support from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, especially in facilitating visa procedures to improve work efficiency.

Looking to the future, COPION is committed to a long-term commitment to Vietnamese education and to working with multicultural families. The organization believes that with the close coordination of partners, including the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, COPION's contributions will become increasingly practical.

Mr. Keisuke Yoshimura, representative of Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Vietnam:

Priority should be given to climate change and population aging.

Mr. Keisuke Yoshimura, representative of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) in Vietnam. (Photo: Thu Phuong)

JICA Office has been operating in Vietnam for about 30 years, cooperating with many partners, including the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, to find solutions to Vietnam's development challenges. Cooperation projects are always implemented in the spirit of companionship and practical contribution to the community.

During that process, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations was an important partner, supporting the projects to proceed smoothly and effectively. In the future, when JICA encounters difficulties or problems, if we continue to receive support from the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, it will be a great source of encouragement for us.

Vietnam is facing many challenges of sustainable development such as climate change, population aging, etc. If the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations increases priority in these areas, JICA believes that the two sides can continue to work together effectively, contributing to Vietnam's common development goals.

Mr. Nguyen Van Huynh, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil:

Continue to implement Ho Chi Minh's thought on people's diplomacy

Mr. Nguyen Van Huynh, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Brazil. (Photo: Pham Hung)

On November 17, 1950, at the Viet Bac Resistance Zone, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to the Congress to establish the Vietnam World Peace Protection Committee - the first multilateral people's foreign affairs organization of Vietnam, the predecessor of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. That milestone is exactly 75 years old today. In my opinion, in the new context, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations needs to thoroughly grasp and implement President Ho Chi Minh's thoughts on foreign affairs, especially people's foreign affairs: Vietnam's resistance must be closely linked with the world people's movement for peace.

The Second Party Congress in 1951 identified the task of “expanding people’s diplomacy”, emphasizing “developing people’s diplomacy widely, paying special attention to participating in major movements in the world and tightening the organization of activities between Vietnamese people’s organizations and people’s organizations in the world”. During that period, the mission of people’s diplomacy was to mobilize and persuade friends, people of other countries, social movements, peace movements, and left-wing movements to support Vietnam’s just struggle for national independence and national unification. Today, that motto still needs to be continued to spread awareness and attract many forces to participate in people’s diplomacy.

Along with that, an important requirement of people's foreign affairs work in the coming time is to build a team to do people's foreign affairs work systematically and professionally: good at foreign languages, mastering our and our friends' guidelines and policies, and having a people's foreign affairs style. Especially, in the current period, in addition to understanding culture, cadres must also understand economics to meet the requirements of tasks in the new situation.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Loan, Vice President - General Secretary of Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Association:

People act as a focal point connecting units that have a need for cooperation and business in Vietnam.

Mr. Nguyen Viet Loan, Vice President - General Secretary of the Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Association (far left). (Photo: NVCC)

The 13th National Party Congress for the first time clearly stated the task: "Continue to promote the pioneering role of foreign affairs in creating and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, mobilizing external resources to develop the country, and enhancing the country's position and prestige."

In the volatile international and regional context, people-to-people diplomacy contributes to building a peaceful and stable environment, facilitating cooperation, attracting investment and bringing goods to international markets through exchanges and connections with the overseas Vietnamese community and international friends.

Nowadays, the room for cooperation with large Thai corporations is not much, but there is still potential for small and medium enterprises, especially start-ups. In addition to being a bridge of friendship between the two peoples, the Vietnam - Thailand Friendship Association is considering establishing groups, cultural, tourism and investment service centers, as a focal point to connect units with the need to cooperate and do business in Vietnam.

Scholar Uch Leang, Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), President of the Cambodian Alumni Association in Vietnam (CAVA):

Expand and promote the effectiveness of the "Friendship Nurturing" program

Scholar Uch Leang, Royal Academy of Cambodia (RAC), President of the Cambodian Alumni Association in Vietnam (CAVA). (Photo: NVCC)

To enhance understanding, connection and friendship between the people of the two countries, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association need to continue to expand and promote the effectiveness of the "Nurturing Friendship" program - an initiative initiated by the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association.

Through this program, Vietnamese families sponsor, care for and accompany Cambodian students in Vietnam, helping them quickly integrate into Vietnamese life, culture and people. Similarly, expanding the model for Vietnamese students in Cambodia will foster close ties between the young generations of the two countries.

These humanitarian activities not only demonstrate the sincere and consistent sentiments of the two peoples, but also contribute to building a solid foundation for the Vietnam - Cambodia relationship, where friendship, humanity and cooperation develop together to become a strong bond.

The rotating meetings between the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association and the Cambodia - Vietnam Friendship Association need to be organized in an open, substantive, and inclusive manner, creating conditions for associations and social organizations in many fields - such as alumni associations, business associations, cultural and artistic associations, youth and women's organizations - to participate. Through this, the parties can exchange information, share experiences, overcome difficulties and seek new initiatives, strengthen solidarity and comprehensive cooperation, and at the same time spread the spirit of solidarity, mutual support and deep understanding among the two countries' communities.

Source: https://thoidai.com.vn/ban-be-quoc-te-chuyen-gia-nganh-doi-ngoai-gop-y-nham-gan-ket-nhan-dan-viet-nam-va-the-gioi-217942.html