Five Key Priorities to Enhance Effectiveness of Vietnam-Cambodia People-to-People Diplomacy
	Conference on Implementation of Resolution of 14th National Party Congress on People-to-People Diplomacy

The conference was attended by Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations; Vice Presidents Nguyen Ngoc Hung and Dong Huy Cuong; along with leaders and officials from departments and units of the Standing Office, and leaders and Standing Committee members of central-level member organizations.

At the conference, Phan Anh Son outlined the core contents of the 14th Congress Resolution, new developments in foreign policy, and key priorities for implementation in the coming period. He also discussed preparations for the 7th National Congress of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations for the 2026-2031 term.

President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son delivers remarks at the conference. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

The conference identified four new requirements for people-to-people diplomacy in the next phase.

First, it is necessary to strongly innovate approaches, thinking, content, and methods of operation, shifting from a purely friendship-based mindset to making substantive contributions to peace, security, and the building of a favorable international environment; creating a “strategic space for development,” more closely aligned with national development interests; enhancing “soft power” and elevating Vietnam’s standing.

Second, to improve research, forecasting, and advisory capacities to better anticipate international trends and effectively capitalize on cooperation opportunities.

Third, people-to-people diplomacy should proactively and closely coordinate with Party external relations and State diplomacy, leveraging the combined strength of Viet Nam’s overall diplomatic system.

Fourth, to build a strong and cohesive system from the central to local levels, with a cadre of officials who possess firm political resolve, strong ethical qualities, high professional competence, keen awareness of current developments, and strategic depth.

Delegates at the conference. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

President Phan Anh Son noted that on March 24, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations issued an Action Program to implement the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress, clearly defining key tasks.

These tasks focus on unifying awareness of the role, position, and mission of people-to-people diplomacy in the new context; innovating thinking, approaches, content, and operational methods from simple exchanges to creating tangible benefits that serve national development; and building an effective and efficient organizational structure. They also include improving the quality of human resources; proactively and regularly coordinating with Party external relations and State diplomacy, the Viet Nam Fatherland Front, socio-political organizations, mass organizations assigned tasks by the Party and State, national defense and security bodies, ministries, sectors, and localities; and consolidating and expanding partnership networks in a more diverse and multi-tiered manner.

Areas of activity must also be renewed and expanded, going beyond friendship exchanges to include advocacy and aid mobilization, economic cooperation, as well as collaboration in culture, science and technology, education and training, and national image promotion.

A key emphasis is placed on accelerating comprehensive digital transformation across the system, with data as the foundation and connectivity as the objective; building shared and interconnected databases between central and local levels; and digitalizing management processes and the organization of activities.

Phan Anh Son called on member organizations to proactively develop action plans aligned with their functions and tasks, ensuring consistency with the overall program; to closely coordinate with the Standing Office in implementing people-to-people diplomatic activities, research and advisory work, and resource mobilization; and to periodically report implementation results, share experiences, best practices, and effective models, thereby contributing to improving the effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy in the new phase.

Seminar: “Trends in Development of People-to-People Diplomacy Worldwide and Implications for Viet Nam” On March 31 in Hanoi, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations hosted a seminar titled “Trends in the development of people-to-people diplomacy worldwide and ...

Seminar on “People-to-People Diplomacy Activities Worldwide and Lessons for Vietnam” On March 31 in Hanoi, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations held a seminar titled “People-to-people diplomacy activities worldwide and lessons for Viet Nam” ...