Dr. Luong Bach Van: This is the 'golden time' for people-to-people diplomacy

Dr. Luong Bach Van commented that the merger of Ho Chi Minh City with Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau opens up a 'golden time' for people-to-people diplomacy, especially in connecting the overseas Vietnamese community with FDI capital flows.

On the afternoon of November 29, delegates attending the 1st Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Ho Chi Minh City, term 2025 - 2030, continued the group discussion program.

At discussion group No. 4, Dr. Luong Bach Van, former Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, former Chairman of the Association for Liaison with Overseas Vietnamese, assessed that in the current context, especially when Ho Chi Minh City merged with the two provinces of Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau , this is a "golden" time for people-to-people diplomacy.

Dr. Van analyzed: " Binh Duong and Ba Ria - Vung Tau are places where many export processing zones, industrial parks and FDI projects are concentrated. In fact, most FDI organizations, before entering Vietnam, consult with Vietnamese friends residing abroad, who understand both the local culture and the situation in Vietnam. It is this group of well-trained overseas intellectuals who have mastered high technology that is the bridge to bring FDI capital back to the country."

Dr. Luong Bach Van contributes ideas on people-to-people diplomacy

PHOTO: THUY LIEU

Ms. Van commented that if the Fatherland Front makes good use of this "channel" to connect with localities, investors will feel more secure, thereby maximizing resources for socio-economic development. However, Dr. Luong Bach Van also worries about the current grassroots staff. Many people are still confused and do not understand the meaning of "people's diplomacy", even thinking that this is the job of the Department of Foreign Affairs.

"Front officials must understand that, right in their own neighborhoods, where foreigners live, helping them understand Vietnamese culture and economy is also people's diplomacy," she emphasized.

To solve the human resource problem in the context of geographical distance between the three localities, Ms. Van recommended the need for specialized training courses.

"We cannot keep summoning officials from Ba Ria - Vung Tau or Binh Duong to Ho Chi Minh City for meetings. We must use digital technology and provide online training. We need to gather experienced experts to compile documents and organize online classes to help grassroots officials grasp the task quickly and do this job well," Ms. Van suggested.

From another perspective, Mr. Tran Trung Tinh, former Vice Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City; Chairman of the Advisory Council on Ethnicity and Religion of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Ho Chi Minh City expressed concern about the position and role of the Front in the current political system. He said that many people, even students and intellectuals, are still vague about the functions of the Front, often confusing it with the Red Cross or charity organizations, disaster relief.

"Directive 17 of the Secretariat of the 7th term more than 35 years ago affirmed that the Front is the largest political and social organization. However, we have been working on it for a long time but still do not clearly understand its role and position. It is necessary to clarify whether the Front participates in leadership, management or just coordination," Mr. Tinh raised the issue.

Mr. Tran Trung Tinh contributed ideas on training front cadres

PHOTO: THUY LIEU

Another reality pointed out by Mr. Tinh is the "loss of breath" of Front cadres, especially after the implementation of administrative unit mergers and urban government models. He commented that the Front's activities at the grassroots level (neighborhoods, hamlets) are currently fragmented, weak, and "everyone does their own thing".

"The Trade Union, Youth Union, and Women's Union all have vocational training schools, but the Front does not, it is mainly a patchwork. Meanwhile, when there are planning, clearance, and compensation projects, when people's rights are most vulnerable to being violated, the Front is the one that "takes the lead" and "takes the fight". Without proper training and unclear roles and positions, the Front at the grassroots level will be very weak, fragmented, and unable to protect the legitimate rights of the people," Mr. Tinh commented.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/tien-si-luong-bach-van-day-la-thoi-diem-vang-cho-doi-ngoai-nhan-dan-185251129173938335.htm