Delegates make a New Year's toast. (Photo: VUFO)
The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Committee for Foreign Non-Governmental Organisation Affairs (COMINGO) held a friendship get-together to celebrate the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2018 on January 25 at the headquarters of VUFO.
Attending the event, there were about 500 delegates are representatives of NGOs, VUFO; representatives from departments and agencies; VUFO’s friendship associations and organisations.
Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung meets representatives of the foreign diplomatic corps and NGOs in Vietnam (Photo: VNF)
Dung said that the people-to-people diplomacy and NGOs have become an important factor in boosting cooperation and trust among countries and nations, helping make relationships deeper, stable and sustainable.
Vietnam has received precious support from the peace-loving community during the resistance wars as well as national re-construction and international integration, he noted, adding that in the current time, international friends and NGOs have still accompanied Vietnam during the poverty reduction and socio-economic development, as well as in implementing the Millennium Development Goals and the current Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
“We have seen your footprints in most remote areas, together with us, to bring stable life and livelihood to the needy, especially for the most vulnerable groups, ensuring that no one is left behind,” he stressed.
No single country is able to deal with traditional and non-traditional challenges such as climate change, poverty and epidemics, he said, stressing the need for multi-sectoral cooperation among public, private and non-state sectors, as well as closer coordination at the international level to deal with specific matters.
With their experience, resources and partnership network, NGOs can join hands in tackling socio-economic problems in each locality and community in Vietnam, said the Deputy PM.
He affirmed Vietnam’s wish to foster cooperation with international organizations, pledging to create optimal conditions for them to operate in Vietnam for inclusive and sustainable growth, heading to the completion of the SGDs.
On the occasion of the upcoming traditional New Year of Vietnam, Deputy PM Dung extended wishes to ambassadors, chargé d’affaires and representatives from international organisations and NGOs in Vietnam.
He also lauded the operational outcomes of VUFO in 2018, making important contributions to common development of the country.
VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga delivers her speech. (Photo: VUFO)
VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga sent his warmest welcome and passionate sentiments, a New Year of success, prosperity and happiness to all families and international friends.
On behalf of the VUFO and the COMINGO, she thanked the Party, State and Vietnam Fatherland Front for their attention, and ministries, sectors, mass organisations and localities for coordination and support of the NGOs’ works.
She also highly appreciated the love and support, the precious help of international friends for Vietnamese people during the progress of liberation, development and international integration.
Foreign NGOs continued to support the country with more than USD 280 million over the past year, thus helping with local poverty reduction, socio-economic development, environmental protection, climate change prevention and war consequences settlement.
Venezuelan Ambassador to Vietnam Jorge Rondon Uzcategui, who is head of the diplomatic corps sent his New Year greetings to all. (Photo: VNF)
On behalf of diplomatic corps in Hanoi, Venezuelan Ambassador and dean of the diplomatic corps Jorge Rondon Uzcategui congratulated Vietnam for the country’s achievements in national construction and development.
He expressed his wish that Vietnam will sustain its economic growth and gain more successes in its external relations.
The diplomat said he hope that the upcoming Year of the Pig will be a year of happiness, harmony, dialogue and common interest.
He aslo acknowledged VUFO’s achievements over the past years. He also expressed his strong belief that VUFO will continue to serve as a bridge connecting international friends and Vietnamese people.
Participants at the event were invited to taste signature Vietnamese dishes and enjoyed art performances by Vietnamese artists./.
VNF
