Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations proactively adapts, enhances people-to-people diplomacy in new phase
WVR - On September 14 in Hanoi, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations held the 7th National Congress for the 2026-2031 term. Ms. Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Central Mass Organizations, Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front attended and directed the Congress.
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| Delegates at the Congress observe the National Anthem. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
Also attending the Congress were Vice Chairwoman of the National Assembly Nguyen Thi Thanh, leaders and former leaders of the Party and State; representatives of central committees, ministries, and sectors; provinces and cities; Ambassadors, Chargé d'affaires, representatives of Embassies, the United Nations, international organizations, and foreign non-governmental organizations in Vietnam; leaders, former leaders, officials, and staff of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) and its member organizations at the central and local levels; partners and friends both domestic and international.
The Congress aimed to comprehensively review and evaluate the implementation of the Resolution of the 2019-2026 term; determine the direction, goals, and key tasks of the VUFO system for the 7th term, 2026-2031; amend and supplement the Charter and elect the Executive Committee, Standing Committee, Inspection Committee, and leadership positions for the 7th term, 2026-2031.
From “pure exchange” to “political content creation”
According to the summary report, during the 2019-2026 term, VUFO and its member organizations successfully implemented the motto “proactive, flexible, creative, effective”, actively identifying and overcoming difficulties and challenges, achieving many positive results.
One of the notable transformations was the comprehensive renewal of leadership, direction, and organizational activities. People-to-people diplomacy shifted from “pure exchange” to “political content creation”.
The network of international friends was not only consolidated but also significantly expanded towards diversification, going deeper and more substantively, contributing to building a solid “people's front”, creating a favorable social foundation for Vietnam's relations with other countries and enhancing Vietnam's reputation and position on the international stage.
Foreign non-governmental work was systematically and professionally implemented, directly contributing to the execution of major programs and projects of the Politburo, Government, and Vietnam Fatherland Front. Foreign non-governmental aid made significant contributions to socio-economic development, environmental protection, improving people's lives, while ensuring national security, politics, and sovereignty.
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| Delegates attending the Congress. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
The work of monitoring, researching, and advising saw a strong qualitative shift. The quality of reports improved, serving leadership and direction tasks. External information work and mobilizing overseas Vietnamese were renewed in form, diversifying media agencies, contributing to spreading the country's image and garnering support from the international community and overseas Vietnamese.
The organizational apparatus at the Standing Agency, central and local member organizations was consolidated towards streamlining, efficiency, and synchronization. Training and fostering staff linked to practical realities were emphasized, creating a unified, smooth, and widely spread system at localities.
In her directive speech at the Congress, Ms. Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Central Mass Organizations, Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front affirmed that the Party and State are pleased to see that in the past term, VUFO has successfully completed its tasks, overcoming difficulties and challenges, with many innovations and breakthroughs, becoming more substantive and modern.
According to Ms. Bui Thi Minh Hoai, from the mindset of primarily exchange and friendship, VUFO has shifted to closely linking with the country's socio-economic development goals. The network of international friends and partners continues to be consolidated and expanded towards multilateralization and diversification, going deeper and bringing practical effectiveness.
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| Ms. Bui Thi Minh Hoai, Member of the Politburo, Secretary of the Party Central Committee, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Central Mass Organizations, Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front delivering a directive speech at the Congress. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
The Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front warmly praised and acknowledged the achievements of VUFO and its member organizations, affirming that VUFO continues to grow, asserting its important position and role in the political system; effectively acting as a bridge of friendship, a messenger of peace, conveying the message of a peace-loving, friendly, loyal, and responsible Vietnam to friends around the world.
Deepening people-to-people diplomacy, creating substantive value
For the 2026-2031 term, Ms. Bui Thi Minh Hoai emphasized the need to correctly understand the mission of people-to-people diplomacy and VUFO's core role. Party committees, authorities at all levels, agencies, departments, and organizations need to recognize the important role and strength of people-to-people diplomacy, which the Party has identified as a pillar along with Party diplomacy and State diplomacy to form Vietnam's diplomacy.
Levels and sectors need to focus on leadership, creating conditions for people-to-people diplomacy activities to increasingly go deeper, becoming a “soft shield”, “peace belt”, contributing to protecting the Fatherland early and from afar.
VUFO is required to strongly innovate, perfect the content and methods of operation towards substance and effectiveness, creating specific products that contribute to enriching the country. Besides the core task of building a solid and stable social foundation for Vietnam's relations with other countries, the VUFO system needs to strongly shift to a development-oriented people-to-people diplomacy model, using economic, trade, investment, science, and technology connectivity effectiveness as a measure of value, becoming a substantive bridge helping localities, businesses, educational and research institutions connect with the world.
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| Overview of the Congress. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
International resource mobilization programs and foreign non-governmental aid must align with national development strategies, closely follow the practical needs of each locality, focusing on key areas such as digital transformation, green growth, high-quality education, and climate change adaptation.
Ms. Bui Thi Minh Hoai also called for the implementation of breakthrough measures to expand diplomatic space, consolidate bilateral relations foundations, and enhance multilateral positions; review, consolidate, and “refresh” the partner system in key areas; propose initiatives, shape the agenda at major international people-to-people forums, and rise to a “leading” role in suitable fields.
Simultaneously, proactive connections with scholars, entrepreneurs, research institutes, focusing on building a young force that loves Vietnam in partner countries to ensure the sustainable succession of international friendships; create breakthroughs in external information work, enhancing the capacity to “tell Vietnam's story to the world”.
VUFO is required to coordinate closely, harmoniously, and synchronously with Party diplomacy and State diplomacy, ensuring the three pillars operate like a solid “tripod”; while promoting the specialized role to actively advise the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front in gathering, uniting, and orienting forces engaged in people-to-people diplomacy nationwide.
Regarding organizational structure, the Chairwoman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front suggested continuing to build a streamlined, efficient people-to-people diplomacy system, rising to the stature of a modern, professional diplomatic organization. VUFO needs to perfect the organizational model from central to local levels towards streamlining, professionalism, efficiency, and effectiveness; soon complete building a common database system on partners, overseas Vietnamese, experts, and operate 100% of processes on a digital platform.
She urged central committees, ministries, sectors, Party committees, and local governments to deeply grasp the importance of people-to-people diplomacy, creating conditions for VUFO and its member organizations to effectively play their core, specialized roles in the new situation.
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| VUFO Chairman Phan Anh Son speaking. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
Strong innovation in the new phase
The 7th National Congress of VUFO for the 2026-2031 term elected a new Executive Committee consisting of 97 members.
The Executive Committee elected a Standing Committee of 22 members, an Inspection Committee of 5 members, and the Standing Committee of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. Mr. Phan Anh Son, Chairman of VUFO for the 6th term, was re-elected as Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations for the 7th term, 2026-2031.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Phan Anh Son emphasised that in the face of difficulties, challenges, and global changes, the Union and its member organizations have proactively shifted states, innovated thinking, approaches, content, and methods of operation to adapt.
According to Mr. Phan Anh Son, the achievements in the 2019-2026 term are not just numbers or simple friendship events but also reflect the courage, determination, and dedication of the staff to national interests.
The VUFO Chairman sincerely acknowledged the attention, orientation, and leadership of the Party; the direction, guidance, support, and coordination of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, National Defense, Security, and Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, central committees, ministries, sectors, localities; the companionship and commitment of international friends and partners, and the dedication of the staff engaged in people-to-people diplomacy from central to local levels.
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| Mr. Ngo Le Van, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, presenting a speech on “Promoting the Role of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations in Elevating People-to-People Diplomacy”. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
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| Ms. Pauline Tamesis, United Nations Resident Coordinator in Vietnam, speaking. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
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| Mr. Dinh Cong Sy, Deputy Chairman of the National Defense, Security, and Foreign Affairs Committee of the National Assembly, Secretary General of the Vietnam Parliamentary Friendship Organization of the 16th National Assembly, presenting a speech on “Coordinating and Promoting the Bridge Role of People-to-People Diplomacy with the National Assembly's Foreign Affairs”. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
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| Mr. Trinh Quoc Khanh, Permanent Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association, presenting a speech on “Lessons on Transforming People-to-People Diplomacy from Broad to Deep, Developing in Depth”. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
In the 2026-2031 term, with the motto “Proactively Adapting, Breakthrough Innovation, Practical Effectiveness”, Mr. Phan Anh Son emphasized the need to continue strong transformation, shifting thinking towards “friendship, solidarity contributing to creating substantive value”, using effectiveness and contributions to national interests and people's benefits as the highest measure for all actions.
VUFO and its member organizations continue to affirm their core role in the pillar of people-to-people diplomacy, closely coordinating with Party diplomacy and State diplomacy to successfully carry out tasks assigned by the Party and State.
| The 7th National Congress of VUFO has unanimously set out directions and tasks for the 2026-2031 term: Overall Goal: Build a comprehensively strong VUFO system from central to local levels in terms of organizational apparatus; develop a team of cadres with solid political bravery, proficient in foreign languages, skilled in professional expertise and skills; develop a broad, deeply influential international partner network. Strongly innovate thinking, content, and methods of people-to-people diplomacy, foreign non-governmental mobilization, external information, and research, advising towards focusing on substantive effectiveness, with measurable products and results, practically serving the development goals of the country and localities. Firmly affirm and maximize the core role in the pillar of people-to-people diplomacy; proactively coordinate with member organizations of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; closely and effectively coordinate with Party diplomacy and State diplomacy, contributing to the successful implementation of “key, regular” tasks, promoting the pioneering role of diplomacy in establishing and maintaining a peaceful, stable environment, firmly protecting the Fatherland early and from afar, contributing to bringing the country into a new development phase.
Specific Targets: • Develop 30-50 organizational partners and 50 individual partners annually; expand presence at 3-5 new international forums. • Connect at least 03-05 pairs of localities and 15-20 foreign partners with domestic ones annually. • By 2030: successfully organize 03-05 major international events on people-to-people exchange; diversify into fields such as trade, investment, science, and technology. • Annually produce at least 05 periodic reports and 05-10 thematic advisory reports recognized and directed for implementation. • By 2030: 100% of member organizations have coordination regulations closely following the general orientation; 100% of specialized staff proficient in at least one foreign language. • By 2027: complete a common database on partners, overseas Vietnamese, experts; 100% of internal management processes operate on a digital platform. Key Tasks and Solutions: Enhance awareness of the role of people-to-people diplomacy and the mission of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; expand, deepen, and make more substantive relations with international friends and partners, actively participate in multilateral institutions; promote mobilization, diversify, and effectively use international resources to serve socio-economic development goals; strongly promote the bridge role of the overseas Vietnamese community; innovate external information work, proactively promote the national image and brand; elevate research and advising on global, regional situations, and world people's movements. Three Strategic Breakthroughs: Breakthrough in thinking, content, and methods of people-to-people diplomacy; Breakthrough in personnel work - recruitment, training, and use of a professional, foreign language proficient team; Breakthrough in digital diplomacy and smart data management - building a common database, applying AI in analysis, forecasting, and external information. |
