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The congress was attended by Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations; Dang Thi Chien, Vice Chairwoman of the Hung Yen Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; representatives of provincial departments and agencies; leaders of friendship unions from other provinces; and a large number of members representing the affiliated associations of the Hung Yen Union of Friendship Organizations.

Three key tasks for the 2025–2030 term

According to the report delivered at the congress, under the motto “Initiative – Creativity – Effectiveness – Cooperation for Peace, Friendship and Development,” the Hung Yen Union of Friendship Organizations aims, during the 2025–2030 term, to build itself into a strong, professional, and effective people-to-people diplomatic bridge, contributing to the successful realization of the province’s socio-economic development goals.

At the same time, the union seeks to expand friendly relations, attract international resources, particularly foreign non-governmental aid, to support priority sectors and address pressing local social issues. Through these efforts, Hung Yen aims to gradually enhance its profile and standing on the international stage.

Nguyen Ngoc Hung (right), Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, presents flowers to congratulate the Congress. (Photo: Thanh Luan)

First, to enhance the stature and effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy by deepening its substance and better serving economic development goals, shifting from purely cultural exchanges to the promotion of investment, trade, and technical cooperation, while increasing the engagement of the business community.

The Hung Yen Union of Friendship Organizations will continue to consolidate the special bonds of solidarity and friendship with the peoples of Laos and Cambodia, maintain support for Lao and Cambodian students, and advise on the substantive implementation of cooperation with Xayabury Province (Laos). It will also study proposals to expand support programs and twinning relationships when conditions allow. At the same time, the union will step up people-to-people exchanges in key FDI markets such as Japan, the Republic of Korea, and Taiwan (China); mobilize efforts to establish provincial-level Vietnam–Japan, Vietnam–Korea, and Vietnam–Taiwan friendship associations; renew organizational models by setting up friendship chapters in industrial parks and clusters; and expand membership to include entrepreneurs, young intellectuals, science and technology professionals, and individuals with experience in international relations.

Member friendship associations should proactively develop activity plans tailored to each partner; link international exchanges with cultural preservation, local history education, and volunteer activities. They will also be encouraged to strengthen organizational capacity, expand membership, and enhance engagement with international students, veterans, and alumni of overseas study programs – thereby deepening the foundations of traditional friendship.

Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, and Dang Thi Chien, Vice Chairwoman of the Hung Yen Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, congratulate the Executive Committee of the Hung Yen Union of Friendship Organizations for its first term.

Second, to renew the strategy for mobilizing foreign non-governmental aid proactively and strategically, identifying this as a pivotal and breakthrough task of the term. The main focus will be given to such fields as education, healthcare, sustainable poverty reduction, environmental protection and climate change response, and the application of high technology in agriculture. Each year, the Hung Yen Union of Friendship Organizations will develop a portfolio of specialized, in-depth strategic projects aligned with the province’s three priority areas: development of high-quality human resources; environmental protection and climate change response (including waste treatment and clean water); and the application of high technology in agriculture. These projects will be professionally designed, scientifically grounded, feature clear counterpart commitments, and ensure sustainability, while proactively expanding outreach to new aid sources alongside traditional partners.

Third, to step up external information and communication efforts; apply digital communication tools to promote Hung Yen’s potential, investment environment, and image, at the same time, organize cultural, artistic, and sports exchange activities to enhance mutual understanding between the people of Hung Yen and international friends. In parallel, the union will advise on research and development of a project on Hung Yen expatriates, aimed at assessing the overseas Vietnamese community and proposing solutions to enhance outreach, mobilization, and encouragement for expatriates to remain connected with their homeland, contribute to socio-economic development, and strengthen ties with the province.

At the congress, a 19-member Executive Committee and a seven-member Standing Committee for the first term of the Hung Yen Union of Friendship Organizations were elected. Vu Duc Hanh, President of the Thai Binh Union of Friendship Organizations (former), was elected by the congress as President of the Hung Yen Union of Friendship Organizations for the 2025–2030 term.

People-to-people diplomacy must be deepened and aligned with development interests

Delivering a keynote address at the congress, Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, noted that the Hung Yen Union is the first local union nationwide to hold its congress following organizational restructuring, demonstrating the province’s proactive, timely approach and strong determination to consolidate the people-to-people diplomatic system in response to new task requirements.

He urged the Hung Yen Union of Friendship Organizations further to strengthen its advisory role to the Provincial Party Committee, while raising awareness among authorities at all levels, sectors, and the public of the role, position, and tasks of people-to-people diplomacy in the new context. Cultural and artistic exchange activities, he noted, should be organized flexibly and effectively, closely linked to conveying messages and promoting cooperation with partners.

Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, delivers a speech at the Congress. (Photo: Thanh Luan)

Emphasizing the need to renew both mindset and operational approaches, Nguyen Ngoc Hung called on the union to diversify forms of people-to-people diplomacy, expand partnerships, promote academic exchanges, and strengthen science and technology linkages. At the same time, he emphasized that economic, trade, and investment promotion should be a key focus, particularly given the participation of business organizations as associate members of the Hung Yen union.

Regarding the mobilization of foreign non-governmental aid, he recommended that the union prioritize consolidating relations with organizations currently operating in the province, coordinate closely with relevant departments and agencies to address administrative bottlenecks, and advise on the development of a new foreign NGO aid mobilization program. This program, he said, should clearly identify priority projects of strategic and in-depth nature, ensuring alignment with the overall orientations set by central authorities.

In addition, he called on the Hung Yen Union to enhance the quality of external information and communication work by renewing content and methods, and effectively leveraging existing communication channels, particularly social media, not only for external outreach but also to help residents better understand people-to-people diplomacy, the activities of friendship associations, and Vietnam’s relations with partner countries.

He further emphasized the need to prioritize training and capacity building for full-time staff, strengthen guidance and training for grassroots focal points engaged in people-to-people diplomacy, and study the establishment of additional friendship associations with traditional friends and partners with strong potential for development cooperation in the new term.

Nguyen Ngoc Hung expressed his confidence that, building on existing foundations and with the province’s strong support, the Hung Yen Union of Friendship Organizations would continue to grow in strength during the new term, introduce innovative and practical initiatives, and make more effective contributions to both provincial and national foreign affairs. He reaffirmed that the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations would continue to accompany, support, and closely coordinate with the Hung Yen union in the time ahead.

Speaking at the congress, Dang Thi Chien, Vice Chairwoman of the Hung Yen Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front, affirmed that the Hung Yen Union of Friendship Organizations plays a core role in people-to-people diplomacy, serving as a bridge to strengthen friendship, expand cooperation, and mobilize resources for the province’s sustainable development. She called on the union, in the new term, to continue renewing the content and methods of its activities substantively and effectively, closely aligned with local development interests.

On this occasion, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations presented the commemorative medal “For Peace and Friendship Among Peoples” to seven individuals, and awarded Certificates of Merit to one organization and four individuals in recognition of their contributions to people-to-people diplomacy and to strengthening solidarity and friendship between the people of Hung Yen and international friends. The Hung Yen Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front also awarded Certificates of Merit to three individuals for their outstanding achievements in people-to-people diplomacy during the 2020–2025 period.

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