Delegates attending the “World Peoples Assembly Days in Viet Nam” pose for a group photo. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

On August 25, in Hanoi, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations and the World Peoples Assembly co-hosted the opening session of the “World Peoples Assembly Days in Viet Nam” under the theme “Connecting humanity for shared values, towards a better future.”

The opening session was attended by Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations; Dong Huy Cuong, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations; and a delegation from the World Peoples Assembly led by Andrey Belyaninov, Secretary-General of the World Peoples Assembly and a member of the UNESCO Commission of the Russian Federation. Also attending were representatives of the Embassy of the Russian Federation in Viet Nam, experts, scholars, scientists, and representatives of agencies, organizations, universities and businesses from the two countries.

The event will take place from August 25 to 27, 2026, featuring dialogues, thematic discussions and partner networking activities.

Speaking at the opening session, Andrey Belyaninov, Secretary-General of the World Peoples Assembly, said that people-to-people diplomacy plays a particularly important role because it is a close and flexible channel that enables parties to exchange views on issues of mutual interest and share cooperation initiatives.

Education for younger generations is one of the key priorities. Increasing numbers of young people are interested in history and culture and wish to convey the messages of their generation. Viet Nam, with its historical experience and the cultural diversity of its 54 ethnic groups, has many values worthy of being shared more widely with the world.

Addressing artificial intelligence, Andrey Belyaninov said the technology is increasingly supporting people in their work, while also raising a number of issues, particularly concerning legal frameworks and responsibility in the application of AI. The exchange of knowledge between generations is therefore particularly important, with young people themselves able to share their technological knowledge and experience with older generations.

Andrey Belyaninov also noted that many generations of Vietnamese people who studied in the Russian Federation have contributed to nurturing friendship between the two countries. He expressed his hope that the exchanges within the framework of the “World Peoples Assembly Days in Viet Nam” would open up new avenues for cooperation in the coming period.

Andrey Belyaninov, Secretary-General of the World Peoples Assembly and a member of the UNESCO Commission of the Russian Federation, speaks at the event. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Phan Anh Son said the presence of social activists, experts, scholars, intellectuals, scientists and representatives of people’s organizations demonstrated the enduring vitality, depth and broad social foundation of the traditional friendship between Viet Nam and the Russian Federation.

According to him, the world is undergoing rapid, profound and unpredictable changes. Strategic competition, traditional and non-traditional security challenges, climate change, breakthroughs in science and technology, and shifts in development models are creating new requirements for every country. In this context, people-to-people diplomacy is playing an increasingly important role in building trust, enhancing mutual understanding, connecting social resources and creating new spaces for cooperation.

The cooperation between the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations and the World Peoples Assembly in organizing the “World Peoples Assembly Days in Viet Nam” stems from the need to create new spaces and approaches for cooperation through people-to-people channels, while continuing to preserve and promote the values of traditional friendship.

Dr. Phan Anh Son, Member of the 16th National Assembly and President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, delivers the opening remarks at the “World Peoples Assembly Days in Viet Nam.” (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

“We expect the event to be more than a friendship exchange. It should gradually become a regular, substantive and effective mechanism for dialogue, connectivity and cooperation. Ideas shared here, suitable partners brought together and promising initiatives can be transformed into concrete cooperation programs and projects,” Phan Anh Son emphasized.

Building on the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Viet Nam and the Russian Federation, he proposed focusing on three areas of cooperation with practical potential and long-term value.

First, the two sides should study the establishment of a Viet Nam-Russia knowledge and innovation network connecting universities, research institutes, scientists, young experts and technology businesses from the two countries. This would promote joint research programs, academic exchanges and initiatives in science and technology, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, biomedical science, environmental technology and sustainable development.

Second, greater investment should be made in the younger generation through young intellectual forums, exchange programs for students and young scientists, and joint innovation competitions. According to Phan Anh Son, sustainable friendship should not rely solely on the positive memories of previous generations. It needs to be embraced, experienced, maintained and nurtured by new generations.

Third, the two sides should promote people-to-people cooperation projects in green science, the environment, public health and sustainable development, while strengthening connections among localities, people’s organizations, universities and businesses so that cooperation ideas can be put into practice.

The President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations called on the World Peoples Assembly and its member organizations across more than 60 countries to mobilize resources and expand cooperation with Viet Nam; identify several priority areas and develop feasible joint projects with concrete outcomes and long-term value.

The Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations is ready to serve as a trusted partner, connecting the World Peoples Assembly and its member organizations with people’s organizations, friendship associations, research institutes, universities, localities, businesses and other partners in Viet Nam. The two sides can also gradually establish a mechanism to monitor and advance initiatives after each edition of the event, ensuring that ideas do not remain confined to discussion sessions but continue to be developed, resources connected and transformed into concrete cooperation programs.

According to Phan Anh Son, if this can be achieved, the “World Peoples Assembly Days” could evolve from an event into a new platform for people-to-people cooperation, bringing together dialogue, knowledge, initiatives and action.

Signing ceremony of cooperation agreements between the World Peoples Assembly and its Vietnamese partners. (Photo: Dinh Hoa)

At the opening session, the World Peoples Assembly signed cooperation agreements with five Vietnamese partners, including the University of Economics under Viet Nam National University, Hanoi; Hanoi University of Business and Technology; Hanoi University of Finance and Banking; the Viet Nam-Russia Cooperation Center; and Hanoi College of Technology and Trade.

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