The 'Bamboo Diplomacy' School: A Guiding Principle for People-to-People Diplomacy

(Dan Tri Newspaper) - Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO), shared how the people-to-people diplomacy strategy firmly adheres to the "Bamboo Diplomacy " school of thought.

Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Phan Anh Son (Photo: Duc Hoang).

"I recall the concept of 'Bamboo Diplomacy' being first mentioned by General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in 2016. Most recently, we have a book that discusses in detail the Ho Chi Minh school of foreign policy and diplomacy, deeply rooted in Vietnamese national identity, reflecting the soul, character, and spirit of the Vietnamese people, with three very important phrases, arguably three keywords: a solid foundation, a strong trunk, and flexible branches," Mr. Phan Anh Son shared during a media meeting ahead of the Year of the Dragon. According to the VUFO President, the "solid foundation" in people-to-people diplomacy is the objectives of Vietnam's foreign policy: consistently implementing an independent, self-reliant foreign policy for peace , cooperation, and friendship. "The solid foundation here is the national interest, which is immutable. The solid foundation here is the leadership and guidance of the Communist Party of Vietnam. The solid foundation here could also be the spirit, will, and character of the Vietnamese people and nation, which is self-reliance, self-strength, independence, and self-determination," he emphasized. "Ho Chi Minh's diplomatic thought has three major points, reflecting exactly what General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong said. First, national independence linked with socialism; second, independence, self-determination, and international solidarity; and third, peaceful, open diplomacy, making more friends and fewer enemies," he stressed. Therefore, the concept of "solid foundation" represents the will for self-reliance and self-strengthening, the will for independence and self-determination; represents the leadership and guidance of the Communist Party of Vietnam; is the goal of foreign policy; and is the national interest. According to Mr. Phan Anh Son, a "solid trunk" is the coordination between the three pillars of diplomacy: Party diplomacy, State diplomacy, and people-to-people diplomacy. At the conference summarizing foreign affairs work in 2023, held on January 8, 2024, Standing Committee member of the Party Central Committee Truong Thi Mai emphasized that the important task of the three pillars of diplomacy is coordination. Good coordination will create a combined strength for Vietnam's foreign diplomacy. The "flexible branch" is also appropriate and aligns with the motto of people-to-people diplomacy: proactive, flexible, creative, and effective. Proactiveness, flexibility, creativity, effectiveness, and the adaptability of people-to-people diplomacy reflect the essence of this work. The essence of people-to-people diplomacy is international public relations work, persuading and mobilizing friends, people, movements, and politicians of other countries to support our national interests and what we desire. "The flexibility of people-to-people diplomacy is diplomacy that appeals to people's hearts, transforms situations, and mobilizes support for our national interests," he emphasized. Highlights of people-to-people diplomacy in 2023: With the clear and specific directions mentioned above, Mr. Phan Anh Son shared the achievements of people-to-people diplomacy in 2023. According to Mr. Phan Anh Son, 2023 presented many challenges and difficulties for Vietnam in the context of a volatile global situation. However, under the wise leadership and guidance of the Communist Party of Vietnam , in 2023, foreign affairs and diplomacy achieved many important and historically significant results and achievements, becoming an impressive highlight in the overall achievements of the country, with high-level diplomacy being particularly noteworthy. Vietnam conducted nearly 50 trips by high-level Vietnamese leaders to other countries and also welcomed about 50 delegations of leaders from other countries to Vietnam. In the overall successful year of Vietnamese foreign affairs, people-to-people diplomacy in particular, and the system of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) in general, as the pillar and core of Vietnam's people-to-people diplomacy, also made significant contributions. Firstly , regarding activities related to peace, solidarity, cooperation, friendship, and relations with countries around the world : In 2023, the maintenance of relations with existing partners of VUFO was further strengthened. VUFO expanded its network of partners within the system to adapt to changes in the global situation. Secondly , in 2023, VUFO implemented many people-to-people diplomacy activities to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and other countries and the anniversary of the Paris Agreement signed on January 27, 1973. VUFO implemented a series of activities commemorating the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations with new forms, new content, new approaches, and with the participation of new foreign partners. Thirdly , regarding high-level activities of Party and State leaders, VUFO and people's organizations and associations successfully carried out the directives when assigned the responsibility of conducting people-to-people diplomacy activities. In 2023, VUFO carried out many high-level diplomacy activities. Throughout the organization process, VUFO strived to achieve the goal of both maintaining and strengthening the foundation of friendly relations and cooperation on people-to-people channels between Vietnam and countries around the world. Within this framework, VUFO once again affirmed to world leaders and people: "Vietnam remains steadfast. Whatever Vietnam was like in the past, we remain loyal, grateful, and remember the contributions and support of our friends." Fourthly , the work of mobilizing foreign non-governmental organizations also achieved impressive results. The value of disbursed aid in 2023 reached US$223.3 million. In 2023, the global situation was volatile, impacted by epidemics, wars, and conflicts. Many countries adjusted their foreign policies, including their aid policies for developing countries, including Vietnam. Against this backdrop, VUFO has innovated its approach to mobilizing foreign non-governmental aid. In particular, in 2023, continuing the policy of seamlessly combining aid mobilization with foreign political advocacy , the overseas trips under the form of the Committee on Foreign Non-Governmental Organizations and VUFO closely adhered to the principle of seamlessly combining aid mobilization with foreign political advocacy. This combination has yielded very positive results. Fifth , research, advisory, and foreign affairs information dissemination work has shown bright spots. In 2023, VUFO aimed to improve the quality of research and advisory work with the goal of studying, monitoring, understanding, and evaluating the situation in countries, regions, and around the world. In the area of ​​external information and communication, VUFO has successfully innovated its external information and communication work, with a particular emphasis on conveying information about Vietnam's country, people, policies, culture, and friendly relations and cooperation with international friends. This is the number one priority of external information work to ensure that Vietnam's partners and friends across continents are not deprived of information about Vietnam, helping them receive the most timely and accurate information about Vietnam through an official channel on all issues and in all fields. Orientation of People-to-People Diplomacy in 2024: Against the backdrop of the global and regional situation, as well as Vietnam's new position on the international stage, in 2024, VUFO has identified several key priorities as follows: Firstly, in terms of peace, solidarity, and friendship: VUFO will continue to innovate its thinking, forms, methods, and approaches in implementing people-to-people diplomacy activities. People-to-people diplomacy, when implemented, will not be merely ceremonial but effective and in-depth, contributing alongside the pillars of foreign policy—Party diplomacy and State diplomacy—to deepen Vietnam's foreign policy guidelines, foreign policy principles, and foreign policy objectives. Secondly , focus on training specialized personnel for people-to-people diplomacy with new requirements, methods, and content. In recent years, VUFO has had a comprehensive program for training personnel. The task set forth is for VUFO to conduct training and professional development for specialized personnel working in people-to-people diplomacy throughout the entire union system at both central and provincial/city levels. Thirdly , VUFO will continue to expand partnerships on people-to-people channels across all continents with which the Union has established relations. Fourthly, in the context of many changing policies in various countries, the work of foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) requires a new approach. This new approach is to diversify the sources of foreign NGO aid to Vietnam to achieve the socio-economic development goals set forth by the 13th National Congress. Especially by 2030, the work of foreign NGOs should not simply rely on sources where VUFO already has relationships, experience, and familiarity, but must definitely expand. This year and in the years to come, VUFO will focus more on agencies, ministries, and parliamentary bodies of various countries… These agencies have the authority to approve aid budgets for developing countries as part of their overall foreign policy. In addition, VUFO will actively engage with large enterprises. Vietnam's upgrading of relations with key partners, driven by strategic competition among major powers, has led to a wave of large companies and businesses shifting their investments to Vietnam and surrounding countries. VUFO will leverage these opportunities to ensure that these large companies and businesses fulfill their social responsibilities towards Vietnam's socio-economic development, partly by contributing to Vietnam's efforts to overcome the consequences of war. Regarding external information and communication work, VUFO has a major goal of innovating both content and form. Our sole objective is to ensure that Vietnam's partners and friends on the people-to-people channel receive information about Vietnam more quickly, promptly, accurately, and diversely on various aspects, so that we can convey it to them.

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