Leaders of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries present flags to representatives of the two countries’ youth participating in the “Viet Nam-China border people’s festival and Red journey for youth research and study 2026” in Guangxi, China, in April 2026. (Photo: Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries)

According to the plan, the Congress will take place on September 14, 2026, in Ha Noi, to comprehensively review and assess the results of the implementation of the Resolution of the 2019-2026 Congress; set out orientations and tasks for the 2026-2031 term; and consolidate the organization and personnel structure.

The congratulatory letter from the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries stated that, under the strategic guidance of the top leaders of the two Parties and two countries, Viet Nam-China relations have maintained positive momentum. In April 2026, General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and President of China Xi Jinping met with General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of Viet Nam and President of Viet Nam To Lam during the Vietnamese leader’s visit to China. According to the letter, the meeting provided strategic direction for building a Viet Nam-China Community with a Shared Future of strategic significance at a higher level.

General Secretary and President To Lam and General Secretary and President of China Xi Jinping at a meeting with youth from the two countries participating in the “Red journey for youth research and study” program in Beijing on April 15, 2026. (Photo: VNA)

Emphasizing that “the foundation of relations between countries lies in the closeness between their peoples,” the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries acknowledged that the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations has long worked to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples of the two countries; actively promoted exchanges and cooperation in the political, economic and trade, cultural, youth and local-level fields; and made valuable contributions to advancing the cause of Viet Nam-China people-to-people friendship.

According to the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, 2026 marks the beginning of China’s 15th five-year plan and a new era of development for the Vietnamese nation; the reform and development efforts of both countries have entered a crucial stage.

“Looking to the future, our Association hopes to work with the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations to translate the strategic orientations identified by the top leaders of the two Parties and two countries into shared understanding and action; fully leverage the distinctive and important role of people-to-people friendship; jointly organize programs such as the Red journey for Vietnamese youth research and study in China, the Viet Nam-China People’s Forum, and the Viet Nam-China Border People’s Festival; and build more bridges for people-to-people exchanges, substantive cooperation, cultural exchanges, and friendship among the younger generations of the two countries,” the letter said.

Delegates visit the China-ASEAN artificial intelligence application cooperation center as part of the Viet Nam-China people-to-people exchange program in Guangxi, China, in April 2026. (Photo: Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations)

The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries also expressed its hope that the building of a Viet Nam-China Community with a Shared Future of strategic significance at a higher level would continue to achieve new results, bringing greater benefits to the two countries and their peoples; and that the two sides would make new contributions to regional stability and development, as well as to the cause of peace and progress for humanity.

New Thinking for New Opportunities Over the next term, developments in the world and at home will open up new spaces for people-to-people diplomacy. This calls for new thinking in implementing work in this field.

Lao-Viet Nam Friendship Association Congratulates Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations on National Congress On the occasion of the National Congress of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations for the 2026-2031 term, the Lao-Viet Nam Friendship Association sent a congratulatory message. The message recognized the contributions made by the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations to the cause of protecting, building and developing the country, and to peace, friendship, national independence and international solidarity.