International Conference on Cooperation between Vietnam and Non-Governmental Organizations

On December 4, in Hanoi, the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organization Affairs and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations held the 5th International Conference on Cooperation between Vietnam and Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs), partners for prosperous and sustainable development. Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son attended and directed the Conference.

The conference was attended by more than 500 delegates representing ministries, departments, branches, localities, diplomatic missions, international organizations, foreign non-governmental organizations and the business sector.

Nearly $1.14 billion in foreign non- governmental aid

President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son delivers a welcome speech. Photo: An Dang/VNA

In his opening speech, Mr. Phan Anh Son, Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, emphasized that at the conference, domestic and foreign delegates, including development cooperation agencies, sponsors, businesses and social organizations discussed and sought new cooperation opportunities, especially in new priority areas such as digital transformation, green economy, circular economy, climate change response, innovation and human resource development. The unified orientations are expected to create momentum to promote the implementation of Vietnam's sustainable development goals for the period 2026-2030.

A notable new feature is the deep and proactive participation of foreign NGOs in the preparation and organization of the event. Foreign NGOs not only attended as guests but also directly participated in content development, co-chaired seminars, coordinated the organization of exhibitions and communication activities. This approach demonstrates the spirit of equal cooperation and mutual development and reflects an important shift in the relationship between Vietnam and the foreign NGO community.

Following the International Conferences in 1992, 2003, 2013 and 2019, with the theme "Cooperation for prosperous and sustainable development", the 5th International Conference was held to evaluate the results of cooperation between Vietnam and foreign non-governmental organizations in the period of 2019-2025; clarify the impacts and contributions of foreign non-governmental organization programs and projects to the socio-economic development of Vietnam; share experiences and effective cooperation models between ministries, branches, localities and foreign non-governmental organizations; and summarize practical lessons in the management and use of foreign non-governmental aid, thereby proposing orientations and solutions to improve the effectiveness of cooperation in the coming time.

According to the report, in the period 2020 - 2025, the world situation is complicated and unpredictable, creating great challenges in international relations and significantly affecting the operations of foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam. However, with the efforts to innovate thinking, content and approach of ministries, organizations and localities, foreign non-governmental activities and aid in the past 5 years have remained stable.

As of November 30, 2025, there were 379 foreign non-governmental organizations operating regularly in Vietnam with a total aid value of nearly 1.14 billion USD in the 2020-2024 period. Projects of foreign non-governmental organizations are spread across the country, focusing on essential areas such as: health, socio-economic development, solving social problems, education - training, natural resources - environment, organizational capacity building, judicial support, etc.

Encouraging multi-stakeholder cooperation models, public-private-social linkages

Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son speaks at the conference. Photo: An Dang/VNA

Speaking at the Conference, Deputy Prime Minister Bui Thanh Son affirmed that Vietnam always supports and creates favorable conditions for foreign non-governmental organizations. Thereby promoting friendly relations and cooperation between the Vietnamese people and people of other countries, while mobilizing resources to serve the goal of poverty reduction and sustainable development of the country. The cooperation between Vietnam and foreign non-governmental organizations in recent times continues to affirm its role as an important foreign affairs channel in the overall pillars of Party foreign affairs, State diplomacy and people-to-people diplomacy.

Appreciating the role of foreign non-governmental organizations, the Deputy Prime Minister affirmed that the Vietnamese Government will continue to issue many policies to create favorable conditions for foreign non-governmental organizations, encourage foreign non-governmental organizations to replicate the model of multi-stakeholder cooperation, public-private-social linkage, etc.

The Deputy Prime Minister requested ministries, branches and localities to innovate their thinking and management methods towards focusing on serving the people and community development; proactively access aid sources; strengthen administrative procedure reform, enhance technology application; pay special attention to project sustainability...

At the Conference, appreciating the spirit of cooperation from the Vietnamese authorities, Ms. Le Kim Dung, Chief Representative of the NGO CARE/USA in Vietnam, hoped that the Vietnamese Government would continue to issue open policies, creating conditions for foreign NGOs to work under a tripartite cooperation mechanism. From there, NGOs will have more favorable conditions to join hands to contribute to the development of Vietnam in the new period.

Ms. Nguyen Tuyet Nga, Chief Representative of PATH in Vietnam, pledged that PATH will always accompany Vietnam; be a reliable partner of Vietnam, support Vietnam to successfully achieve national goals...

The conference includes 2 plenary sessions and 4 thematic workshops held in parallel, focusing on the following areas: Developing education and developing high-quality human resources; Sustainable poverty reduction and solving social problems, contributing to creating and managing sustainable social development; Promoting green economic development, circular economy and sustainable environmental protection; and Enhancing the effectiveness of cooperation between Vietnam and foreign non-governmental organizations and the participation of the business sector.

In recent times, the Working Committee on Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations together with relevant ministries, branches, and People's Committees of provinces and cities have focused on creating a favorable environment for the activities of foreign non-governmental organizations. As the Standing Committee of the Committee, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations has promoted its core role in coordinating and effectively connecting foreign non-governmental organizations with Vietnamese agencies and localities, serving as a regular and periodic information channel and orienting cooperation for foreign non-governmental organizations and donors as a basis for building strategies, planning programs and projects in line with Vietnam's priorities and needs; innovating and diversifying methods and objects of cooperation, and mobilizing foreign non-governmental aid.

The Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations has focused on standardizing administrative procedures, supporting the shortening of processing time for some administrative procedures; promoting inter-sectoral coordination mechanisms at each level; guiding, monitoring, inspecting and evaluating the cooperation situation of ministries, branches and localities; focusing on capacity building, training and fostering knowledge and skills for staff working on foreign non-governmental work in ministries, branches, people's organizations and sustainable localities...

Source: https://baotintuc.vn/thoi-su/hoi-nghi-quoc-te-ve-hop-tac-giua-viet-nam-va-cac-to-chuc-phi-chinh-phu-20251204160436591.htm