Fostering sustainable Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship: Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association
WVR - In a conversation with The World and Vietnam Report, Mr. Tran Minh Hung, Chairman of the Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association, expressed pride in the Association's contribution to nurturing and enhancing the traditional friendship between the two nations over the past seven decades.
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On the occasion of the 70th anniversary of Vietnam-Indonesia diplomatic relations, could you share the contributions of the Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association in strengthening people-to-people exchanges and promoting mutual understanding?
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| Chairman of the Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association Tran Minh Hung. (Source: Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association) |
Over the past 70 years, especially recently as bilateral relations between Vietnam and Indonesia have been elevated in various aspects – politics, economy, defense, culture, and people-to-people exchanges – the Association has consistently strived to act as a bridge, contributing to spreading the traditional friendship between the two peoples.
Through cultural exchanges, educational activities, and delegation exchanges, the Association has enabled many Vietnamese to engage with and learn about Indonesia's land, people, history, and culture, while also helping Indonesian friends gain a deeper understanding of Vietnam.
The Association also supports and collaborates with events organized by the governments of both countries, their embassies, and media agencies, such as seminars and cultural exchange programs, to enhance dialogue and people-to-people exchanges, fostering connectivity and trust between the two sides.
The solidarity and mutual understanding between the peoples of the two countries contribute to creating a solid foundation for practical and long-term cooperation activities.
Thus, the Association is proud to have played a part, albeit modest, in nurturing, building, and promoting the traditional friendship between Vietnam and Indonesia over the past seven decades.
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| The seminar "Vietnam–Indonesia Towards 2045: Strengthening Partnership, Expanding Cooperation, and Deepening Friendship" held in Hanoi on March 27, 2025. (Source: Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association) |
Which activities of the Association have left the most significant impression on Indonesian friends and partners?
A notable recent activity is the seminar "Vietnam–Indonesia Towards 2045: Strengthening Partnership, Expanding Cooperation, and Deepening Friendship" organized by the Association in collaboration with the Indonesian Embassy in Hanoi on March 27, 2025. This is one of the activities commemorating the 70th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries (December 30, 1955 - December 30, 2025).
The seminar was attended by representatives from the Ministry of Trade, Indonesian and Vietnamese businesses such as Ciputra Group, Japfa animal feed company, TH Milk Group, Vinfast, and Vietnamese scholars specializing in Indonesia, who actively discussed measures to enhance economic cooperation.
There remains significant potential and room for development in Vietnam-Indonesia economic and trade cooperation. Such seminars are meaningful, creating an environment to connect businesses from both countries, helping them seek cooperation opportunities, and proposing solutions to further strengthen cooperation in the future, especially as the two countries' relations were elevated to a Comprehensive Partnership in March 2025 during General Secretary Tô Lâm's state visit to Indonesia.
Additionally, many cultural and artistic exchange programs, such as Indonesian and Vietnamese music and dance performances, batik silk painting art introductions in Hanoi, badminton sports competitions, and quizzes about the friendship between the two countries, have helped the people of both nations, especially the youth, better understand each other's culture and traditions.
These activities are highly appreciated by Indonesian friends and partners for contributing to strengthening friendship, not only at the official level but also at the grassroots level in cultural and social life.
In your opinion, which areas of cooperation or people-to-people exchanges between the two countries have the potential for strong development in the coming period?
Looking to the future, I believe there are several areas where people-to-people exchanges and civil cooperation, where the Association can play a positive role, have great potential and need to be exploited.
In education, academic exchanges, and research: High-level leaders of both countries have set the goal for Vietnam and Indonesia to become high-income developed nations by 2045. Therefore, both countries' leaders highly prioritize education and training, giving high priority to training high-quality human resources.
In the future, student exchanges, scholar exchanges, and joint research programs between Vietnam and Indonesia can be further developed, particularly in education, training, digital technology, green industry, and circular economy. This is an opportunity for the younger generations of both countries to understand each other, thereby fostering long-term relationships.
In culture and tourism: Both countries have long-standing, rich traditional cultures with many similarities and opportunities to learn from each other. Art and cultural exchange programs, exhibitions, and "local-to-local" tourism connections – combining provinces, cities, and localities of Vietnam and Indonesia – should be promoted. Cultural exchanges are inherently attractive and also contribute to developing local tourism and economy.
In economic cooperation and business: As economic, investment, and trade cooperation between Vietnam and Indonesia develops, the flow of people, experts, and entrepreneurs between the two countries will increase.
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| Introducing Indonesian batik silk painting art in Hanoi. (Source: Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association) |
The Association can play a role in supporting social exchanges, creating channels to connect businesses with businesses, businesses with communities, helping build trust and understanding between businesses and the people of the two countries.
Another important area is social exchanges between the Vietnamese community in Indonesia and the Indonesian community in Vietnam.
Supporting communities in organizing cultural, educational, and social events for overseas Vietnamese, foreigners, and friends from Indonesia is also an area where the Association can and should play a role, making the traditional friendship closer and more widespread among the people of both countries.
In the context of a new era and ASEAN's continued strengthening of ties, what direction does the Association have in accompanying and promoting comprehensive cooperation and the traditional good friendship between the two countries?
The Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association is committed to continuing to be a bridge for the people, actively implementing cultural, educational, and social exchange programs; expanding participants – not only limited to official delegations but also reaching out to the younger generation, entrepreneurs, intellectuals, and communities of friends from both countries.
We will support effectively exploiting new cooperation opportunities, especially in innovation, technology, sustainable development, business cooperation, and entrepreneur exchanges; by organizing forums, seminars, and discussions; supporting the connection of the Vietnamese and Indonesian business communities, facilitating deeper understanding and cooperation between the two countries' partners.
The Association will also continue to support strengthening local cooperation, connecting provinces and cities; promoting the "local-to-local" model, enhancing cultural and tourism exchanges between the localities of Vietnam and Indonesia, contributing to spreading friendship to all regions and all classes of people.
In particular, we will always accompany the new cooperation directions set by the governments and ministries of both countries. Additionally, we will promote deeper understanding, respect cultural differences, enhance shared values, and build a sustainable and long-lasting friendship.
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| Celebrating Indonesia's National Day and the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries. (Source: Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association) |
The 70th anniversary of diplomatic establishment is not only an occasion to reflect on the past journey but also marks the beginning of a new phase – deep, comprehensive, and full of prospects.
The Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association hopes to continue receiving the attention and support of state agencies, Vietnamese businesses, Indonesian partners, and friends from both countries to contribute to building a sustainable relationship for the common benefit of the peoples of both countries and for peace and development in the region and globally.
