Several of Dong Nai's models and initiatives in people-to-people diplomacy have received high appreciation from the central government. Dong Nai has been recognized as the leading locality in the implementation of people-to-people diplomacy for four consecutive years, from 2020-2023.
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| Students received prizes in the Vietnam - France Friendship Drawing Contest and the French Speech Contest, organized by the Vietnam - France Friendship Association of Dong Nai Province. (Photo: S.THAO) |
Proactive Connection with International Organizations
Dong Nai has currently established relationships with 60 foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs), foreign direct investment (FDI) enterprises, and foreign associations. The Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations has established ten member friendship associations with 11,000 members and has maintained positive connections with embassies from many nations in Ho Chi Minh City.
According to Cao Van Quang, Member of the Standing Committee of the Dong Nai Provincial Party Committee and Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai Province, the province has proactively developed plans and coordinated in mobilizing people to carry out the Party's external policy and the State's diplomacy.
Simultaneously, Dong Nai has improved external communication for all levels of society, particularly for workers in FDI enterprises, and has informed overseas Vietnamese and foreigners studying, working, and traveling in the province about the province's and the country's development in the renewal process.
| Currently, around 32,000 Vietnamese from Dong Nai live and work in various countries and territories worldwide; nearly 18,000 households in the province have overseas Vietnamese relatives. |
Every year, the province organizes a gathering program for overseas Vietnamese. Through this event, provincial leaders inform participants about the province's development situation and encourage overseas Vietnamese and their relatives to strive in their work and studies and contribute to the homeland in various forms.
Furthermore, Dong Nai holds frequent meetings with NGOs and sponsors in the province to update partners on the results of resource utilization in implementing projects and non-projects supported by NGOs, foreign groups, and FDI firms. At the same time, NGOs and international associations are given instructions on how to ensure that their operations are in line with Vietnamese regulations.
Kim Jae Chul, Representative of the COPION Vietnam stated that the province has actively coordinated and established favorable conditions for COPION to carry out its related tasks.
Furthermore, Dong Nai pays attention to and assists members of NGOs and personnel with expertise in FDI enterprises. As a result, in recent years, NGOs have committed to donating around VND 600 billion to help improve and enhance the quality of life for provincial people.
Supporting Foreigners in Dong Nai
In addition to maintaining and developing partnerships with NGOs, foreign associations, and FDI enterprises, Dong Nai supports foreign residents in the province.
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| A performance by Cambodian international students at the Lao and Cambodian traditional New Year ceremony in Dong Nai (Source: Dong Nai Newspaper) |
According to the Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Dong Nai Province, the province annually holds the traditional New Year festivals of Laos (Bunpimay) and Cambodia (Chol Chnam Thmay) for Lao and Cambodian students studying in the province. In addition, the province continues to provide scholarships and favorable study conditions to international students .
In June 2024, the Department of Foreign Affairs welcomed eight students from Kampong Thom province to study in Dong Nai. To date, 17 Kampong Thom students have studied in the province.
| In 2023, Dong Nai became the first locality to organize a contest on people-to-people diplomacy. In 2024, the contest was held online for Vietnamese citizens aged 15 and older. |
Yin Bunsat, Deputy Head of the Administration Office of Kampong Thom province, and leader of the delegation bringing students to study in Vietnam expressed gratitude for Dong Nai's ongoing concern and support, especially in human resource training. According to him, Dong Nai's support for Cambodian students is much appreciated in Kampong Thom.
Chairman of Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organization Nguyen Thanh Tri said that the province has received over 1,600 projects from 45 countries and territories globally. Along with these initiatives, a large number of foreign experts and Vietnamese staff work in FDI companies. The province actively connects FDI firms with appropriate member friendship associations to establish chapters and increase membership.
To improve the efficiency of people-to-people exchanges and encourage foreign language learning among members, member friendship associations hold foreign language public speaking contests and study abroad counseling programs for parents and students each year. Simultaneously, to provide a platform for members to interact, the Dong Nai Union of Friendship Organizations holds annual cultural exchanges and art competitions.
Moreover, whenever NGOs and foreign associations hold meetings, representatives from the provincial departments and agencies attend to receive their operational experiences, thereby promptly encouraging and assisting them in overcoming obstacles.
Source: Vietnamtimes
