The conference was chaired by Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations. Participants included representatives of central and local member organizations, as well as officials and employees of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations. The conference focused on clarifying the major orientations and key tasks for the 2026-2031 period, and the need to renew people-to-people diplomacy in a more proactive, practical and effective manner.

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

At the conference, Vice President Dong Huy Cuong presented the key contents of the Resolution of the 7th National Congress, including the major orientations, key tasks and solutions for the 2026-2031 term.

One important issue highlighted was the position and role of people-to-people diplomacy within Viet Nam's comprehensive, modern and professional diplomatic framework. Guided by the motto “Proactive adaptation, breakthrough innovation, practicality and effectiveness”, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations has set the goal for the 2026-2031 term of building a strong and comprehensive system from the central to local levels; developing an extensive and influential network of international partners; and renewing the thinking, content and methods of people-to-people diplomacy and foreign non-governmental organization (NGO) affairs. These efforts aim to deliver tangible results and measurable outcomes in support of national and local development.

Conference to disseminate the Resolution of the 7th National Congress to central member organizations. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

To realize these goals, the Resolution of the 7th National Congress identifies three strategic breakthroughs.

First, in terms of thinking, content and methods of operation: comprehensively renewing approaches to and the implementation of people-to-people diplomacy to meet the requirements of the new situation and evolving international trends.

Second, in terms of personnel: reforming recruitment, training, assignment, utilization and appointment processes; and building a contingent of officials with strong political commitment, a desire to contribute, and foreign language proficiency, capable of working in a modern international environment.

Third, in terms of digital people-to-people diplomacy and intelligent data governance: shifting operational methods to the digital environment; building a shared database on international partners, overseas Vietnamese communities and foreign NGOs; and applying artificial intelligence (AI) to analyze international public opinion, make forecasts and support external communications.

Alongside these three breakthroughs, the conference outlined eight key groups of tasks and solutions, including translating resolutions into action programs; promoting the role of people-to-people diplomacy; strengthening research and policy advisory capacity; mobilizing international resources; promoting the role of Vietnamese communities abroad; renewing external communications; consolidating the organizational structure and improving personnel quality; and accelerating the application of science and technology, digital transformation and AI.

For central member organizations, the requirements include shifting from a passive, wait-and-see mindset to proactively proposing solutions, and moving away from ad hoc activities towards developing long-term programs with clear objectives and tangible outcomes.

Conference to disseminate the Resolution of the 7th National Congress to local member organizations. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

At the conference, Phan Anh Son placed particular emphasis on personnel development, describing it as a key factor that determines the effectiveness of the entire system. Accordingly, officials engaged in people-to-people diplomacy must meet the following standards: strong political commitment; proficiency in foreign languages; solid professional expertise and skills; and strategic thinking, coupled with a keen awareness of current developments.

For the system of local friendship organizations, the conference underscored the need to translate the Resolution of the 7th National Congress into action programs suited to the conditions and strengths of each locality, while strengthening coordination and two-way information exchange with the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations.

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