President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga on November 3 suggested the southern province of Bac Lieu step up ties with foreign countries like Laos and Cambodia, and put forth a long-term action plan for people-to-people relations.
Nga made the suggestions at a working session on people-to-people relations with representatives of the provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee, and the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations.
Congratulating Bac Lieu on achievements it has recorded over the past years, the VUFO President thanked local leaders for their attention to activities of the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations.
She lauded the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations’s contributions to local economic development, saying Bac Lieu has made marked achievements in non-governmental aid mobilisation.
 |
| VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga has a working session on people-to-people diplomacy with representatives of the Bac Lieu province Party Committee and People’s Committee, and the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations. |
To carry forward the role of people-to-people diplomacy in the new situation, the VUFO will help its provincial chapters, including the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations, make orientations, the official said.
Nga also pledged to create conditions for provinces to enhance people-to-people diplomacy through ambassadors, consul generals and non-governmental organisations (NGOs).
The official urged the People’s Aid Coordinating Committee (PACCOM) to coordinate with localities in devising relevant programmes and plans, and send working groups to assist localities in this regard.
She called on local leaders to pay more heed to the BUFO, and departments and agencies to further their support to the VUFO’s units in general and the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations in particular in building an effective operational model, thus contributing more to local economic development.
At the working session, Nguyen Van Muoi, Vice President of the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations, said the province has tasked the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations with organising activities in combination with socio-economic development, and defence-security tasks.
 |
| Le Hoang Minh, President of the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations speaks at the working session. |
Accordingly, the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations has been assigned to encourage its members to observe guidelines of the Party, and laws and policies of the State, expand friendship and cooperation between people in Bac Lieu with international friends.
In 2019 alone, the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations mobilised over VND9 billion VND (nearly 389,000 USD) from organiations and individuals at home and abroad in support of the poor and social policy beneficiaries, in such areas as health care, education and rural transport.
Tran Minh Hai, Deputy Director of the provincial Department of Planning and Investment, said between 2017 and 2019, Bac Lieu attracted 19 programmes and projects for the poor, people with disabilities, Agent Orange/dioxin victims, children, poor students and women.
 |
| Le Thi Ai Nam, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Council, speaks at the working session. |
In her remarks, Le Thi Ai Nam, Deputy Secretary of the provincial Party Committee and Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Council, affirmed that the provincial Party Committee and People’s Committee always facilitate the operation of the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations.
She highlighted the fruitful coordination between departments, agencies and localities in programmes and projects through the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations.
Through activities launched by the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations, the awareness of local officials, Party members and people about people-to-people diplomacy has been improved significantly, Ai Nam said, praising the union’s contributions to local socio-economic development.
She suggested the VUFO continue to help the Bac Lieu Union of Friendship Organisations expand its activities and call for the support from NGOs for the province, particularly in climate change response./.
