Vietnam - Switzerland Friendship Bridge

Through various exchange, networking, and humanitarian activities, the Vietnam-Switzerland Friendship Association of the province contributes to strengthening friendly relations between the people of the two countries and supporting multilateral development.

The Vietnam-Switzerland Friendship Association of the province, together with the Associazione ACTI Espérance organization (Switzerland), visited Hoa Hong Kindergarten. Photo: Vietnam-Switzerland Friendship Association of the province.

According to Bui Viet Trieu, Chairman of the Vietnam-Switzerland Friendship Association of the province, the association has always been proactive and creative in organizing people-to-people diplomatic activities, contributing to building a comprehensive diplomatic relationship between the people of Vietnam and Switzerland. The association organizes many diplomatic protocol activities and visits; sends telegrams and letters of congratulations on important holidays of the Swiss people through the Swiss Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City. At the same time, it proactively coordinates with the Swiss Consulate General and relevant agencies to organize friendship exchange programs, art performances, and exhibitions on major holidays of both countries to enhance mutual understanding and trust.

Cultural exchange activities such as the Vietnam-Switzerland trade promotion fair, photo exhibitions, film weeks, and cultural exchanges create opportunities for members in An Giang and the Vietnamese community in Switzerland to meet, connect, and experience the beauty of each country's culture. The association also actively carries out work related to overseas Vietnamese in accordance with Resolution No. 36-NQ/TW, dated March 26, 2004, of the Politburo ; mobilizing overseas Vietnamese studying, working, and living in Switzerland to contribute to their homeland, participate in economic development, transfer science and technology, and support movements launched by the Vietnam Fatherland Front.

One of the association's notable achievements is its proactive approach in building relationships with the Swiss Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City, non-governmental organizations, businesses, social organizations, and overseas Vietnamese communities to connect and mobilize resources to support the province. Many practical social welfare programs have been effectively implemented. Notably, the association successfully secured funding from the Associazione ACTI Espérance (Switzerland) to provide 250 clean water tanks for residents of Giồng Riềng and Gò Quao districts in the former Kiên Giang province, totaling 1.5 billion VND; and the construction of two new classrooms at Thổ Sơn Kindergarten, Vạn Thanh branch, Hòn Đất commune, with a budget of 1 billion VND.

The association also coordinated the construction of charitable houses, repaired rural traffic bridges, organized free medical examinations and dispensed free medicine, and donated clean water containers to people in difficult circumstances. During the period 2023-2025, the total value of fundraising and disbursement by the Vietnam-Switzerland Friendship Association of the province reached nearly 6 billion VND.

Besides humanitarian activities, the association also focuses on external information dissemination through various diverse forms. This contributes to helping international friends better understand Vietnam and its people, the Party's guidelines and policies, the State's laws and regulations, as well as the achievements of the country's reform process and the province's development. The association regularly connects and informs the Vietnamese expatriate community in Switzerland about the socio-economic development of the country and the province; introduces the national unity policy, creating conditions for them to visit their homeland, invest, and support the local community. At the same time, it acts as a bridge for cooperation in the fields of economics, science, technology, education, vocational training, and job creation.

According to Mr. Bui Viet Trieu, in the coming time, the Vietnam-Switzerland Friendship Association of the province will continue to effectively implement Directive No. 12-CT/TW, dated January 5, 2022, of the Party Central Committee on strengthening the Party's leadership and improving the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy in the new situation; closely adhering to the province's socio-economic development goals and the action program to implement the resolution of the 1st Provincial Party Congress. The Association will continue to consolidate, expand, and deepen the friendly and cooperative relationship between Vietnam and Switzerland; and take advantage of support resources from the Swiss Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City and international partners regarding capital and technology to serve local development.

In addition, the Vietnam-Switzerland Friendship Association of the province is innovating the content and methods of its foreign relations activities, focusing on depth; promoting the application of information technology in people-to-people foreign relations; and strengthening efforts to mobilize foreign non-governmental aid linked to the actual needs of the locality. The Association aims to mobilize approximately 1 billion VND annually for programs developing rural transportation, school equipment, and humanitarian and charitable activities. At the same time, it aims to attract businesses, youth, students, and university students to participate in international exchange activities, career counseling, vocational training, and multicultural integration.

TRONG TIN

Source: https://baoangiang.com.vn/nhip-cau-huu-nghi-viet-nam-thuy-si-a485387.html