Speaking at the event held in Hanoi on September 22, Luu said the congress is being held at a time when the world is struggling with COVID-19 pandemic and Vietnam has assumed the roles of ASEAN Chair, Chair of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) 2020, and non-permanent member of the UN Security Council. The entire Party and the people are also focusing on Party congresses at all levels, towards the 13th National Party Congress in 2021.
He said Vietnam is emerging as a bright spot in the fight against COVID-19, with social welfare and economic growth guaranteed, contributing to improving its stature on the international arena. The VPC will mark its 70th founding anniversary this year (November 19, 1950-2020).
During the 2013-2020 tenure, the VPC posted encouraging achievements, not only in people-to-people diplomacy but also in raising public awareness about peace and its value, he said.
With regards to the bilateral ties, the VPC fostered its ties with neighbouring countries and worked with partners from Japan, the Republic of Korea, Bangladesh, India and Czech Republic in multilateral people-to-people activities.
It sent 30 delegations overseas on working trips under bilateral and multilateral cooperation programmes and welcomed 15 foreign delegations to Vietnam for international conferences and bilateral exchanges. It also made active and responsible contributions to the activities of the World Peace Council (WPC).
At the WPC’s Congress in 2016, Vietnam was elected as its Vice Chair. In 2017, the VPC held the Congress of the WPC Executive Committee, which was hailed as one of the most successful events so far.
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| Vice Chairman of the National Assembly and Chairman of the Vietnam Peace Committee Uong Chu Luu speaks at the congress held in Hanoi on September 22. Photo: VUFO |
In cooperation with chapters of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and mass organisations, the VPC collected over 1.5 million signatures in 2015 and about one million in 2019-2020 nationwide, contributing to the global peace movement and the fight against nuclear weapons.
The WPC also actively joined multilateral diplomatic people-to-people activities, such as the ASEAN People’s Forum and the Asia-Europe People’s Forum, and fought against reactionary forces in democracy and human rights.
Particularly, VPC has been active in promoting security and sovereignty over the seas and islands by incorporating related contents in its working agenda in international and regional forums; emphasizing the spirit of the State and people of Vietnam in maintaining peace and security in the East Sea.
At the same time, research activities have received adequate attention. In 2017, the VPC, in coordination with the Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation, the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics’ Research Institute for Human Rights and Germany’s Rosa Luxumberg Stiftung, successfully held the international seminar entitled “The role of peace in promoting and protecting human rights”; dialogue on the significance of Russian October Revolution on occasion of the revolution’s 100th anniversary, and has been completing the book introducing the perspectives on peace stated in the 12th Party Congress's document.
Last year, the VPC also has released a book titled "Vietnam – Aspiration for Peace" featuring research material on peace issues and Vietnamese people's peace ideology.
Luu expressed his belief that with the valuable contributions of the new Presidium, the VPC will carry out more practical activities, contributing to the country’s cause of national peace and friendship.
The congress elected a 50-member Presidium with Vice Chairman of the National Assembly Uong Chu Luu retaining his position as VPC Chairman for the new tenure of 2020-2025.
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| VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga presents certificates of merit to collectives and individuals who made outstanding achievements in VPC activities during the previous tenure. Photo: VUFO |
Sharing some thoughts on the working orientations and tasks set by the congress, VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga said that in the coming time, the VPC needs to further strengthen its activities in the fields of sustainable development such as education, culture, peace, etc. Special attention needs to be paid to human security; more activities to promote and build a nonviolent society to protect women and girls, and to combat human trafficking.
In addition, the VPC should continue to strengthen and maintain relations with traditional partners, at the same time, actively establish and expand cooperation with new partners, and participate in international, multilateral people's forums to promote and protect the country’s interests, while also contributing to the common goals of global people.
In additions, the Committee also needs to strengthen external communication, actively introduce and promote Vietnam's prestige and image in the world arena and fight wrong, distorting opinions about Vietnam.
On this occasion, Nga presented certificates of merit to collectives and individuals who made outstanding achievements in VPC activities during the previous tenure./.
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