Presenting the Political Report at the 7th National Congress of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations for the 2026-2031 term, held on September 14 in Hanoi, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Ngoc Hung said that the 2019-2026 term had witnessed changes in the organization’s thinking, content and methods of operation.

Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Ngoc Hung presents a summary of the Congress’s Political Report. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

In friendship activities, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations has shifted from “simple friendship exchanges” to “creating development value”, establishing regular cooperation mechanisms and developing a range of in-depth activities with individual partners.

In work involving foreign non-governmental organizations, the approach has shifted from receiving aid to proactively connecting, orienting and creating development cooperation under a co-creation model, in which parties jointly design, implement and benefit from cooperation. Aid resources have remained stable and have been linked to major programs and campaigns.

Multilateral people-to-people diplomacy has initially shifted from active and responsible participation towards proactive contributions, shaping and leading multilateral mechanisms. Research and policy advisory work has been strengthened. External information activities have shifted from one-way information provision to co-creating content with experts, scholars and overseas Vietnamese, while diversifying communication products and applying artificial intelligence.

Shifting the focus to substantive effectiveness

For the 2026-2031 term, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations has adopted the motto: “Proactive adaptation, breakthrough innovation, practical effectiveness.”

The overall objective is to build a strong Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations from the central to local levels, with a comprehensive and robust organizational structure; develop a contingent of officials with firm political credentials, strong foreign-language proficiency, and solid professional expertise and skills; and establish a strong international partner network with extensive influence.

The organization will strongly renew the content and methods of people-to-people diplomacy, foreign non-governmental organization mobilization, external information, and research and policy advisory work, shifting the focus towards substantive effectiveness, with concrete and measurable products and results that practically serve the development goals of the country and localities.

It will firmly affirm and maximize its core role in the people-to-people diplomacy pillar; proactively coordinate with member organizations of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front; and closely and effectively coordinate with Party-to-party diplomacy and State diplomacy to successfully fulfill the “key and regular” task, promote the pioneering role of diplomacy in creating and maintaining a peaceful and stable environment, firmly safeguarding the Fatherland from an early stage and from afar, and enabling the country to confidently enter a new era of national rise.

Delegates attend the 7th National Congress of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations for the 2026-2031 term. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

6 key tasks and 3 strategic breakthroughs

The Political Report identifies 6 key tasks and solutions for the 2026-2031 term.

First, raise awareness of the role of people-to-people diplomacy and the tasks of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations.

Second, consolidate, expand, deepen and further substantiate relations with international friends and partners; expand the scope, fields and methods of operation; actively participate in multilateral mechanisms; and promote and safeguard national interests.

Third, step up mobilization, diversify, and improve the effectiveness of the management and use of international resources to serve socio-economic development objectives.

Fourth, promote the bridging role of the Vietnamese community abroad, strengthening the great national unity bloc both at home and overseas.

Fifth, renew thinking and improve the quality and effectiveness of external information work; proactively build and promote the national image and brand.

Sixth, elevate research and policy advisory work on global and regional developments, the global people’s movement, and spaces for external relations and multilateral cooperation.

The three strategic breakthroughs include: a breakthrough in the thinking, content and methods of implementing people-to-people diplomacy; a breakthrough in personnel work; and a breakthrough in digital diplomacy and smart data governance.

Amendments and Supplements to the Charter of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations At the first session of the 7th National Congress of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations for the 2026-2031 term, delegates heard a report on amendments and supplements to the Charter of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations.

Sharing Common Goal, Taking Initiative At the first session of the 7th National Congress of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations for the 2026-2031 term, held in Hanoi on September 14, delegates shared practical, field-tested experience in people-to-people diplomacy. Their discussions focused on concrete approaches: building trust in border areas, leveraging the strengths of organizations and localities, connecting resources, nurturing the next generation, and making tangible results the measure of effectiveness.