Dynamically connect and improve the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy

Raising the level of friendship

Every quarter, the Vietnam - Cambodia Association in Can Tho City holds a regular meeting. At the meeting, members who were volunteers have the opportunity to recall the difficult and arduous years when participating in the fight to help their friends in Cambodia; together discuss organizing traditional education activities for the younger generation... Mr. Nguyen Van Can, Chairman of the Vietnam - Cambodia Association in Can Tho City shared: "With the tradition of "When drinking water, remember its source", the younger generation needs to cherish the tradition of solidarity, blood sacrifice, and mutual support between the two nations, contributing to fostering friendship and close cooperation between the two countries. Over the years, the Association has always proactively advised the city's Vietnam - Cambodia Association to successfully organize many friendly exchange events, cultural and sports exchanges between Can Tho City students and Cambodian students; organize friendship meetings for members who are Khmer ethnic and Cambodian students studying in Can Tho City...".

Can Tho City People's Committee coordinated to organize the meeting to celebrate the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and the Russian Federation (January 30, 1950 - January 30, 2025).

Supporting Cambodian students studying in Can Tho City is one of the outstanding activities of the Association. The program "Nurturing friendship" has become a brand, creating conditions for many students to study well in Can Tho City. Through this program, from 2019 to present, the Vietnam - Cambodia Friendship Association of Can Tho City has mobilized and awarded 98 scholarships (1-2 million VND/scholarship) to Cambodian students, with a total support value of over 110 million VND...

In recent years, the city's LHCTCHN and its member HHNs have regularly organized people-to-people exchange activities in many forms; expanded new relationships, maintained good existing relationships with foreign diplomatic missions, non-governmental organizations and foreign partners... Typically, the Vietnam - China HHN regularly participates in diplomatic activities; joined with city leaders, departments and branches to welcome many delegations and Chinese investors to visit and learn about the investment environment and cooperation with Can Tho City; coordinated to organize many cultural exchange events and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries. Through the mobilization of the Vietnam - China HHN and its affiliated branches, the Chinese Consulate General, and the Chinese Business Association in Ho Chi Minh City have implemented many social security programs in Can Tho City, such as: building a Vietnamese - Chinese High School, building houses of gratitude, awarding scholarships to students in difficult circumstances,...

The Vietnam - France Association of Can Tho City has played a key role in connecting and promoting the teaching and learning of French, in conjunction with building and developing the Francophone community in the city. Since early 2025, the Vietnam - France Association of Can Tho City has successfully organized the 2025 Francophone Festival; coordinated with G&D to sign a memorandum of understanding between 3 primary schools teaching French in Can Tho City and 3 primary schools in France...

Currently, the Can Tho City People's Council and its member associations are establishing friendly and cooperative relations with nearly 200 non-governmental organizations, consulates and many universities of various countries, 57 people's organizations with 18 countries and territories. The quality and quantity of people's diplomacy activities are increasingly diverse and rich in form, and strict in content in the fields of political, economic, cultural and social diplomacy. Over the past 5 years, the City People's Council has coordinated with member associations, departments, branches, sectors, unions of the city and diplomatic agencies of various countries to organize more than 200 political and foreign affairs events to celebrate the National Day, Independence Day, and the day of establishing diplomatic relations... At the same time, it has participated in welcoming more than 350 international delegations to pay courtesy calls, sign cooperation agreements, exchange, and seek investment opportunities for economic, cultural and social development with Can Tho City.

Working together for the community

According to Ms. Le Thi Thanh Giang, Chairwoman of the Can Tho City People's Council, people-to-people diplomacy is not only about organizing exchange activities, promoting friendship and mutual understanding, but also a "bridge" connecting cooperation in the fields of economy, trade, education, investment, etc., contributing to promoting the city's development.

Over the past 5 years, the City's LHCTCHN and its member HHNs have cooperated with over 35 foreign non-governmental organization partners, implementing and mobilizing about 85 project and non-project programs with a total value of nearly 9.7 million USD, equivalent to over 237 billion VND. In 2024, the City's LHCTCHN and its member HHNs have implemented 8 programs/projects; mobilized foreign non-governmental organizations and potential sponsors to implement 12 new programs and projects with a total implementation and mobilization value of nearly 14 billion VND. The projects are suitable to the needs of the subjects, localities and the goals of the sponsors such as: supporting education, building traffic bridges, supporting disadvantaged groups, improving soft skills for people in responding and adapting to climate change, digital transformation, smart cities, etc.

Notably in 2024, the City's LHCTCHN signed a memorandum of understanding with ASSIST/Philippines on the project "Excellent Training Center", with a total value of nearly 4 billion VND, implemented at the Polytechnic School - Can Tho University, Can Tho University of Technology and Can Tho Vocational College; signed an MOU for the 2024-2026 period with FNF/Germany with a total committed aid value of 1.6 billion VND to implement the projects "Sustainable Development", "Promoting Corporate Social Responsibility" and "Enhancing the economic empowerment of vulnerable groups". At the same time, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Embassy of India and received the project "Construction of rural traffic bridges on traffic routes in districts of Can Tho City" using non-refundable aid from the Quick Impact Fund (QIP) of the Government of India in 2024-2025 with a total aid value of 1.2 billion VND...

The results of implementing programs and projects not only make practical contributions to the city's social security work but also further strengthen the solidarity and friendship between the city's people and foreign non-governmental organizations.

Continuing the mission in the new era

Can Tho City Association of Vietnamese and Soviet Union Friendship, formerly known as the Vietnam - Soviet Union Friendship Association of Hau Giang Province, was established in 1979. After nearly 46 years of construction and development, Can Tho City Association of Vietnamese and Soviet Union Friendship has promoted its role in gathering and mobilizing intellectuals to participate in people's foreign affairs, contributing to the construction and development of the city. Currently, Can Tho City Association of Vietnamese and Soviet Union Friendship has 21 member associations, 42 grassroots branches and more than 4,000 members. The Executive Committee of the 21 member associations has 296 members, most of whom are intellectuals at universities and colleges; including 4 professors, 26 associate professors, 66 doctors, 79 masters, the rest are bachelors or higher; 80% of them are senior in political level. The permanent agency's specialized staff is regularly trained in political theory, state management, professional skills, diplomatic skills, and foreign languages ​​to gradually standardize and become the core force for the city's foreign affairs work.

Looking back on the past, the Can Tho City People's Council has grown quite comprehensively, from developing member organizations to improving the quality and efficiency of operations. Applying the motto "Proactive, flexible, creative, effective" in people's foreign affairs, in the context of limited state budget, the City People's Council and the Executive Committee of member organizations have increased the mobilization of social resources from many sources, effectively implementing people's foreign affairs. People's foreign affairs activities always enhance the mass and socialization by bringing activities to the grassroots, attracting the participation of many classes of people, especially the youth, bringing positive effects, contributing to deepening the city's relationship and cooperation with partners in all fields. Along with that, foreign information work continues to be strengthened, contributing to conveying Vietnam's messages of peace, friendship and cooperation to the world.

People's diplomacy activities have embellished the picture of foreign affairs, not only contributing to creating the driving force for Can Tho City to integrate and reach out, but also affirming the important role of people's diplomacy in the new era, the era of national development.

Article and photos: Hong Van

Source: https://baocantho.com.vn/nang-dong-ket-noi-nang-cao-hieu-qua-cong-tac-doi-ngoai-nhan-dan-a185224.html