Presenting the report at the conference, Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, said that in 2025 the world and regional situation developed in a complex manner, exerting wide-ranging impacts on Viet Nam and foreign affairs, requiring the external relations forces to respond swiftly, strengthen forecasting, and make thorough preparations. Domestically, the reorganization of the apparatus, the implementation of the two-level local government model, along with many new orientations, placed high demands on ministries, sectors, organizations, and localities.
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| Nguyen Ngoc Hung, Vice President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, presents the report on work results in 2025. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
In that context, the system of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations closely followed the eight key tasks set out at the 13th meeting of the Presidium of the 6th tenure, completing a large volume of work under conditions where the organizational apparatus underwent many changes, while meeting new requirements from the system.
People-to-people diplomacy activities were proactively implemented in close alignment with the Party’s foreign policy guidelines, the State’s policies, and the leadership direction of the Party and State leaders. The Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations focused on implementing substantive external activities, contributing to the effective implementation of important Party resolutions and affirming its role as an important foreign affairs channel in the new situation.
Programs were organized in a thorough manner and on a large scale, attracting broad participation from domestic and international delegates, generating positive impacts on consolidating the social foundation and creating favorable international public opinion, while contributing to expanding partner networks and promoting substantive cooperation and friendship between the Vietnamese people and the peoples of other countries.
Research and policy advisory work on people-to-people diplomacy recorded clear improvements, with a highlight being a national-level project that elevated both theory and practice, serving as an important basis for planning policies and orientations for system-wide activities in the coming period.
Organizational work and personnel development were implemented in a synchronized and disciplined manner, strengthening the institutional foundation and enhancing the quality of operations as well as the adaptability of member organizations to the new context.
External communications were strongly renewed, leveraging multiple platforms to disseminate accurate and timely information, contributing to safeguarding the national image and interests on the international stage.
Agreeing with the 2025 review report, Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, emphasized that amid rapidly changing international and regional situations, the requirement is to adapt, adjust, and renew foreign affairs thinking. The year 2025 was marked by many large-scale people-to-people diplomacy activities such as events commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification, the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Viet Nam, and the 75th anniversary of the traditional day of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations. The consistent message of these activities was gratitude and appreciation for international friends, domestic partners, and previous generations of officials; foreign affairs activities gradually shifted from small-scale approaches to a mainstream, continuous flow, forming additional forums such as the Viet Nam-Russia People’s Forum and the Red Journey.
The President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations noted that although resources decreased, efficiency, outreach, and work quality were enhanced; he also emphasized the key role of Party building, the role of Party cells and heads of Party committees, and commended the spirit of solidarity and responsibility of officials, civil servants, and employees of the Standing Agency.
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| Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, delivers remarks at the conference reviewing work in 2025 and deploying tasks for 2026. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
Regarding orientations for 2026, the report presented at the conference clearly stated the goals of building a professional, modern, and unified Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations and its member organizations at both central and local levels; providing overall, specific, and feasible orientations for each member organization to bring into play its particular strengths; proactively advising the Viet Nam Fatherland Front on people-to-people diplomacy; building a contingent of officials engaged in people-to-people diplomacy with political steadfastness, ethics, and capacity to meet new requirements; completing and effectively implementing the training program for people-to-people diplomacy officials of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front; and expanding geographical areas, partner networks, and fields of operation in close alignment with the country’s major orientations and objectives and the strategic resolutions of the Party Central Committee.
To implement these orientations, the report proposed eight key tasks for 2026: thoroughly grasping the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress and effectively carrying out Party work; consolidating the organizational structure and improving coordination mechanisms, and successfully organizing the 7th National Congress of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations; building a professional contingent of people-to-people diplomacy officials with firm political resolve and strong professional expertise; developing digital infrastructure, applying information technology, and building partner databases; diversifying and expanding partner relations, especially in new areas and new fields; actively and effectively participating in people-to-people diplomacy activities; enhancing the effectiveness of work related to foreign non-governmental organizations and aid mobilization; and improving the quality of research and advisory work.
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| Phan Anh Son, President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, presents the Emulation Flag to the People’s Aid Coordinating Committee, the leading unit in the 2025 emulation movement. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
The President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations emphasized several points:
First, strengthening orientation and planning work. As early as January 2026, the Standing Agency of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations will work directly with each member organization to provide specific activity orientations, enhancing proactiveness and flexibility in relations with partners.
Second, promoting training and capacity building for officials. In the first quarter of 2026, training and in-depth exchange activities on domestic economy, international economy, supply chains, and economic cooperation will be organized to enhance the substantive capacity of officials engaged in people-to-people diplomacy.
Third, placing research, monitoring, and assessment of areas and partners as top priorities; requiring officials to thoroughly grasp resolutions and national target programs to proactively connect, advise, and effectively implement activities.
Fourth, continuing to improve databases, creating fundamental changes in information standardization to effectively serve management and routine operations of the entire system.
Fifth, focusing on ensuring resources and decisively addressing funding difficulties for associations that have the capacity to implement external activities but remain constrained by financial conditions.
At the conference, the Presidium of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations commended collectives and individuals that excellently fulfilled their tasks in 2025.
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| The meeting to collect opinions from voters at the Standing Agency of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations regarding the person introduced as a candidate for the 16th National Assembly. (Photo: Dinh Hoa) |
On the same day, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations held a meeting to collect opinions from voters at the workplace to introduce a candidate for the 16th National Assembly. Based on Official Letter No. 1518 dated December 26, 2025 of the Standing Committee of the Central Committee of the Viet Nam Fatherland Front and relevant regulations, the leadership of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations unanimously introduced Phan Anh Son, Secretary of the Party Committee and President of the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organizations, as a candidate for the 16th National Assembly.
Voters highly appreciated Phan Anh Son’s political qualities, ethics, professional capacity, and sense of responsibility, unanimously affirming that he met the conditions and had sufficient credibility to stand as a candidate for the 16th National Assembly. The meeting voted confidence at a rate of 100 percent (109 out of 109 voters).
Source: Vietnamtimes
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