Vietnam hosts World Public Council Days, expanding people-to-people connections
WVR - On August 25, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the World Public Council co-chaired the opening session of the World Public Council Days event in Vietnam, themed "Connecting Humanity for Common Values, Towards a Better Future."
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This marks the first time the World Public Council Days have been held in Vietnam, taking place from August 25-27. The World Public Council delegation is led by Mr. Andrey Belyaninov, Secretary-General of the World Public Council and a member of the Russian Federation's UNESCO Committee.
The opening session was attended by Dr. Phan Anh Son, a member of the 16th National Assembly of Vietnam and President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; representatives from the Russian Federation Embassy in Vietnam, the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association, along with experts, scholars, scientists, and representatives from agencies, organizations, universities, and businesses of both countries.
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| Scene from the opening session of the World Public Council Days in Vietnam. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
Strengthening People-to-People Diplomacy
In his opening remarks, Dr. Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, emphasized the presence of social activists, experts, scholars, intellectuals, scientists, and representatives of people's organizations as vivid evidence of the enduring vitality, depth, and broad social foundation of the traditional friendship between Vietnam and the Russian Federation.
In the rapidly changing world, with increasing strategic competition, traditional and non-traditional security challenges, climate change, and scientific-technological breakthroughs, Dr. Phan Anh Son believes that people-to-people diplomacy plays an increasingly important role in building trust, enhancing understanding, connecting social resources, and creating new spaces for cooperation.
“We hope that the 'World Public Council Days' will not only be a friendly exchange activity but gradually become a regular, substantive, and effective dialogue, connection, and cooperation mechanism; shared ideas, suitable partners connected, and good initiatives transformed into specific cooperation programs and projects,” Dr. Phan Anh Son affirmed.
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| Dr. Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, delivers the opening speech. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
Building on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and the Russian Federation, the President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations proposed three feasible and long-term cooperation directions: Establishing a knowledge and innovation network between Vietnam and the Russian Federation; investing more in the younger generation through young intellectual forums, student exchange programs, young scientist initiatives, and joint innovation competitions; promoting people-to-people cooperation projects on green science, environment, public health, and sustainable development.
He also urged the World Public Council and its member organizations in over 60 countries to leverage resources and expand cooperation with Vietnam; to select priority areas, build joint projects with specific products, and create long-term value. Accordingly, the activities of organizations should shift from exchanges to cooperation, from ideas to projects, and from potential to tangible results.
In his speech at the opening session, Mr. Dong Huy Cuong, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, stated that after 40 years of Renovation, Vietnam has achieved significant socio-economic and international integration milestones. Entering a new development phase, people-to-people diplomacy needs to contribute to connecting international resources to serve the country's development goals.
With a network of over 600 international partners, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations is well-positioned to collaborate with the World Public Council to connect social organizations, research institutes, universities, businesses, scholars, and intellectuals. The cooperation between the two organizations not only strengthens the social foundation of Vietnam-Russia relations but also expands people-to-people connections between Vietnam and other countries.
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| Mr. Andrey Belyaninov, Secretary-General of the World Public Council, Member of the Russian Federation's UNESCO Committee, speaks at the event. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
From there, Mr. Dong Huy Cuong proposed establishing an annual dialogue mechanism; promoting research and academic exchange on artificial intelligence, semiconductor technology, clean energy, and biomedicine; supporting Russian studies in Vietnam and Vietnamese studies in Russia; enhancing exchanges among youth, students, scientists, young entrepreneurs, and twin cities; while boosting multilingual digital communication to enhance understanding between the peoples of the two countries.
Continuing exchange and cooperation activities
The speeches and presentations at the opening session focused on clarifying the significance of the event, the notable achievements in Vietnam-Russia people-to-people diplomacy, and the prospects for expanding cooperation between the two countries in the future.
Sharing at the event, Mr. Andrey Belyaninov, Secretary-General of the World Public Council, emphasised the important role of people-to-people diplomacy in enhancing understanding, building trust, and promoting cooperation between nations. According to him, direct connections between people, social organizations, scientists, universities, and businesses will create a solid social foundation for long-term cooperative relationships.
He particularly highlighted the role of the younger generation in continuing and developing friendly relations. Youth should be given opportunities to participate in forums, exchange activities, and research to be more concerned with societal and global issues while developing a sense of responsibility towards the community.
The Secretary-General of the World Public Council believes that older generations have the responsibility to educate, guide, and pass on values of peace, friendship, respect, and cooperation to the younger generation. This is how good traditions are continued, creating a foundation for the younger generation to become new bridges between nations.
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| Within the opening session, the World Public Council signed cooperation agreements with five Vietnamese partners. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
Mr. Andrey Belyaninov highly appreciated that the “World Public Council Days in Vietnam” provided a space for organizations and the younger generation to meet and exchange, thereby expanding practical connections and cooperation programs between Vietnam, the Russian Federation, and countries within the network.
Through a video sent to the opening session, Mr. Igor Khalevinskiy, Chairman of the Council of Russian Diplomats Associations, also introduced an overview of the World Public Council Days in Vietnam, clarified the practical significance of the event, and expressed the desire to develop cooperation with Vietnam.
During the opening session, the World Public Council signed cooperation agreements with five Vietnamese partners, including: University of Economics - Vietnam National University, Hanoi; Hanoi University of Business and Technology; Hanoi University of Finance and Banking; Vietnam-Russia Cooperation Centre; and Hanoi College of Technology and Commerce. This activity contributes to establishing new connections, providing a basis for promoting cooperation between the World Public Council and Vietnamese educational institutions and organizations.
After the opening session, the World Public Council delegation continued its program, engaging in thematic dialogues and partner connections in Hanoi. On August 26, the delegation had a working session with the leadership of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and attended an international seminar on scientific and educational cooperation for sustainable development at the University of Economics - Vietnam National University, Hanoi.
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| Delegates attending the opening of the World Public Council Days in Vietnam. (Source: Tuoi Tre) |
On August 27, alongside meetings with Vietnamese agencies and organizations, the delegation participated in an international seminar on the role of tourism in economic development at the University of Social Sciences and Humanities, Vietnam National University, Hanoi. The event concluded the same day, wrapping up a series of activities aimed at enhancing professional exchanges, partner connections, and expanding cooperation between the peoples of Vietnam, the Russian Federation, and countries within the World Public Council network.
| The World Public Council Days have previously been held in various countries such as France, India, the United Arab Emirates, Serbia, Bulgaria, Mongolia, Azerbaijan, Egypt, and Jordan. The event aims to lay the groundwork for establishing effective partnerships with people's organizations and state agencies of countries worldwide, fostering cooperation and dialogue between nations and peoples through people-to-people diplomacy. The World Public Council is an international alliance of non-governmental organizations headquartered in Moscow, Russian Federation. With a network of member organizations in over 60 countries, the World Public Council works to develop people-to-people diplomacy, promote international humanitarian cooperation, and strengthen trust between peoples. The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations is a socio-political organization specializing in people-to-people diplomacy in the fields of peace, solidarity, friendship, and cooperation; playing a key role in people-to-people diplomacy and foreign non-governmental organization advocacy; thereby contributing to strengthening and expanding friendly and cooperative relations between the people of Vietnam and other countries. |
