Consolidating leadership and expanding cooperation networks

The congress was attended by Dong Huy Cuong, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations; Nasly Isabel Bernal Prado, Ambassador of Chile to Viet Nam; representatives of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and relevant agencies and organizations; and members of the Association's Executive Committee.

The congress elected the Executive Committee and Inspection Committee for the fourth term. At its first meeting, the fourth-term Executive Committee elected a Standing Committee comprising seven members and appointed the Association's leadership.

Le Duy Truyen, former Deputy General Director of the Viet Nam News Agency and Standing Vice President of the Association for its third term, was elected President for the 2026-2031 term. Nguyen Ngoc Son, former Vietnamese Ambassador to Chile, was elected Standing Vice President, while Tran Thi Yen, Deputy Head-in-Training of the Americas and Oceania Department of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, was elected Secretary-General.

The Executive Committee of the Viet Nam-Chile Friendship and Cooperation Association for the 2026-2031 term makes its debut at the congress. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to the report presented at the congress, during the 2026-2031 term, the Association will continue to promote friendship exchanges while expanding its partner network and strengthening connections among organizations, localities, businesses and research institutions in the two countries. It will focus on exploring cooperation opportunities in economics, agriculture, education, science and technology, and innovation.

The Association aims to establish relations with 10-15 new partners in Chile, prioritizing universities, research institutes, localities, businesses and social organizations. It also plans to coordinate or participate in 45-50 people-to-people diplomacy activities during the term and proactively propose at least one new people-to-people diplomacy initiative each year.

Renewing approaches to achieve tangible results

In her congratulatory remarks at the congress, Chilean Ambassador to Viet Nam Nasly Isabel Bernal Prado emphasized that the friendship between Chile and Viet Nam “does not stem from a diplomatic protocol, but from a shared moral conviction.” She recalled the solidarity movement among the Chilean people in support of Viet Nam during the 1960s and the visit to Vietnam by Salvador Allende, who was then President of the Chilean Senate. According to the Ambassador, the Association is the direct inheritor of this tradition of friendship.

Chilean Ambassador to Viet Nam Nasly Isabel Bernal Prado delivers congratulatory remarks at the congress. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Assessing the Association's role, the Ambassador acknowledged its contributions to building trust and creating opportunities for exchanges and cooperation between the two countries. These included the publication in Viet Nam of works by Chilean authors and recognition of the contributions made by Chilean diplomats to bilateral relations.

In particular, in recent years, the Association has made efforts to connect localities, businesses, universities and research institutes, while exploring cooperation models in agriculture, fruit exports, supply chains and local development. According to the Ambassador, the Association has begun adjusting its activities to better align with the economic development needs of localities, laying the groundwork for long-term partnerships and aiming to “turn that friendship into tangible results for our societies.”

With regard to the new term, the Ambassador said that the ability to identify opportunities, adapt and put forward proposals would set the Association's activities apart. She expressed her hope that the Association would continue to connect younger generations, diversify its partners beyond traditional networks, and turn every meeting, project and exchange into a link in a lasting chain of trust.

The Ambassador also acknowledged the contributions of Ambassador Nguyen Van Tich during his two terms as head of the Association. She congratulated the newly elected President and the fourth-term Executive Committee, while reaffirming her commitment to continued close cooperation with the Association for the benefit of the peoples of both countries.

In his address to the congress, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Dong Huy Cuong highly appreciated the achievements made by the Association during its previous term, despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the considerable geographical distance between the two countries and limited resources.

Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Dong Huy Cuong speaks at the congress. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

According to him, while some challenges cannot be changed, the Association can change the way it operates. Given the geographical distance to Chile, the effectiveness of its activities should not be measured solely by the number of events or exchange delegations, but should instead focus on “concrete outcomes, in-depth relationships and people who genuinely work together.”

He proposed that the Association concentrate on key priorities and ensure that at least one practical, tangible outcome is delivered each year. These priorities should include making effective use of the Viet Nam-Chile Free Trade Agreement (VCFTA) and the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) to connect localities and businesses in the two countries; establishing links among universities, research institutes, students and Spanish-language learners; and promoting the historical legacy of Viet Nam-Chile relations through cultural activities. He noted that the Association should clearly define the focus and target groups of its networking activities to avoid spreading its efforts too thinly.

Regarding organizational matters, Dong Huy Cuong called on the Association to broaden and rejuvenate its membership by attracting businesspeople, scientists, lecturers, experts and young officials. He also stressed the need to assign clear responsibilities and tasks and to make full use of the contributions of each member of the Executive Committee. The Association should closely monitor developments in Chile and Latin America and provide information and thematic reports to support the research and advisory work of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations.

In particular, he proposed that the Association develop an orientation for its people-to-people diplomacy activities with Chile before December 2026, clearly defining objectives, targets, tasks, solutions and specific action plans. The leadership of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations has assigned its Americas and Oceania Department to coordinate with and support the Association in this work.

He also called for stronger coordination with the diplomatic missions of both countries, ministries, agencies, businesses and other associations within the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations. The 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Viet Nam-Chile Comprehensive Partnership in 2027 and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2031 should be marked with specific and practical initiatives.

On this occasion, Dong Huy Cuong presented a commemorative flag to the Association, along with Certificates of Merit and the “For Peace and Friendship Among Nations” insignia of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations to individuals who had made significant contributions to people-to-people diplomacy.

Dong Huy Cuong, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, presents a commemorative flag to the Viet Nam-Chile Friendship and Cooperation Association. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Highlights of the 2019-2026 Term According to the review report presented at the congress, during the 2019-2026 term, the Viet Nam-Chile Friendship and Cooperation Association participated in supporting one high-level delegation and welcomed three Chilean friendship delegations to Viet Nam. It also coordinated nearly 60 activities involving external relations, exchanges, commemorations, cultural events and cooperation networking. A cultural performance by students of the Spanish Department at Hanoi University. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) One of the Association's notable activities was an exchange programme held in 2023 on the occasion of a visit to Viet Nam by former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet and a delegation from Cerro Navia District. The Association coordinated efforts to connect the Chilean Embassy with Chu Van An Lower Secondary School in Hanoi, organizing the presentation of a painting by artist Mono González and a mural-painting programme involving Vietnamese students. In the areas of economic cooperation and local-level partnerships, in 2025, the Association coordinated a fact-finding visit by the Chilean Ambassador to Son La to explore agricultural development models and opportunities for agricultural exports. It also participated in activities to connect businesses, promote products and advance cooperation between the two countries.

Da Nang Promotes Connections with Localities and Businesses in Chile

Vietnam, Chile Seek to Deepen Comprehensive Partnership