Reviewing history, Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son said that immediately after the Democratic Republic of Vietnam was born, President Ho Chi Minh directed the establishment of the first friendship organizations such as: Vietnam - US Friendship Association, Vietnam - China Friendship Association, Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association and Vietnam World Peace Protection Committee.
On November 17, 1950, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to the Conference to establish the Vietnam World Peace Protection Committee. In 2008, the Secretariat decided to take November 17, 1950 as the Traditional Day of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations.
Mr. Phan Anh Son shared, looking back on the past 75 years, he is more deeply imbued with the power of faith, of international solidarity and of unanimity in overcoming difficulties. During the war, people's diplomacy achieved glorious feats, contributing to the formation of a broad united front across five continents, from ordinary workers to political activists, parliamentarians, intellectuals, journalists and artists.
Millions of letters, poems, photos, marches and anti-war movements in many countries are living proof of humanity overcoming hatred, affirming that Vietnam is not alone. Vietnam has become a symbol of justice, courage and the desire for peace.
Today, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations affirms its active role in many regional and international forums; plays a good role as a focal point in relations and aid mobilization, actively supports poverty reduction, ensures social security, supports healthcare, education, environmental protection, overcomes the consequences of war, and responds to natural disasters and epidemics.
Speaking at the ceremony, on behalf of the Party and State leaders, President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Bui Thi Minh Hoai emphasized that during the two struggles for national independence and reunification, with the foundation of "considerate diplomacy", "conquering with reason, winning with morality", friendship organizations together with people's foreign affairs forces across the country have "built bridges of solidarity and friendship" between the Vietnamese people and people of other countries.
The movements opposing the unjust wars of colonialism and imperialism and supporting the just struggle of the Vietnamese people spread across five continents, becoming an unprecedentedly large international people's front in the 20th century.
When peace was restored, people's diplomacy once again demonstrated its effectiveness in mobilizing friends and partners, socialist brotherly countries and progressive people around the world to support Vietnam in overcoming the consequences of war, breaking the embargo, and promoting Vietnam's relations with other countries and international organizations.
The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations has done a good job in mobilizing foreign non-governmental aid. More than 6 billion USD in foreign non-governmental aid since the late 1980s has been a huge and meaningful resource, contributing to the fight against hunger, poverty reduction, overcoming the consequences of war, and solving social problems.
Ms. Bui Thi Minh Hoai said that the history of formation and development of Vietnam's people's diplomacy is a clear demonstration of the potential and strength of people's diplomacy in building and promoting peaceful, friendly and cooperative relations between nations in the world, as well as mobilizing and forming a world people's front to unite in support of Vietnam.
The Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front said that organizations doing people's foreign affairs work under the Vietnam Fatherland Front in general, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and its member organizations in particular, need to have stronger transformation, breakthroughs and innovations.
The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations needs to advise the Party, the State, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front on creating profound changes in awareness of people-to-people diplomacy. People-to-people diplomacy must promote its strengths, closely linking "the Party's will with the people's heart", connecting "the great national unity bloc with noble international solidarity".
People's diplomacy must play an important role, together with Party foreign affairs and State diplomacy, in continuing to "combine the multi-layered strength of the nation with the strength of the times" to work with the whole country to "build a peaceful, unified, independent, democratic and prosperous Vietnam, making a worthy contribution to the world revolutionary cause" as directed by General Secretary To Lam.
The President of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front said that it is necessary to form a broad people's foreign affairs front that operates effectively. Ms. Hoai noted that people's foreign affairs should not be left to friendship associations but should be considered the task of the entire political system, Party committees at all levels, and all classes of people.
People's diplomacy activities must be diverse in terms of implementing subjects, partners, cooperation fields, content and implementation methods, not restricted by formalities and rituals. People's diplomacy needs to be "proactively adaptable, innovative, creative, practical and effective".
Source: https://vietnamnet.vn/khong-khoan-trang-doi-ngoai-nhan-dan-cho-cac-hoi-huu-nghi-2463560.html
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