The first session. (Photo: "Public Diplomacy in Asia 2021" conference)
Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association Nguyen Duc Hung represented the association to attend the "Public Diplomacy in Asia 2021" webinar on July 27.
The webinar is held by the Singapore International Foundation from July 26 to 30, gathering 550 people, more than 40 of whom are diplomats, experts, and researchers in the field of public diplomacy in and outside Southeast Asia. They discuss and exchange opinions on the policies and practices of public diplomacy in Asia while building relationships, trust, and mutual understanding between cultures. The organization aims toward a peaceful and integrated world.The webinar includes 11 sections, namely public diplomacy post-Covid, bridging international business, and many informatives sections about diplomacy.
Public diplomacy, also known as people diplomacy, is the future of international relations given today’s inter-connected world, said the webinar organizers. Together with state-driven initiatives, people diplomacy enriches the tapestry of relations between nations to build a better world.
"Increasingly, individuals, academia, businesses, and civil society initiate discourse and act on issues that, in a world where change is rapid, may have been overlooked by the government. They connect readily online to collaborate on any number of complex cross-border issues to export ideas, influence opinions, and develop solutions," they wrote.
To celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Singapore International Foundation's establishment, the conference features the launch of Winning Hearts and Minds: Public Diplomacy in ASEAN - the first-ever compilation on public diplomacy in Southeast Asia.
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| The virtual booth of Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association. (Photo: "Public Diplomacy in Asia 2021" conference) |
An exhibition was held in parallel with the webinar to introduce organizations that have greatly contributed to public diplomacy in Southeast Asia, which includes the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association. In its booth, the association uploaded important essays written by its president and vice president.
In his essay named "Working Together for a Better World," the association's president Vu Viet Ngoan wrote: "Over the years, we have held different events in Vietnam and Singapore to strengthen the understanding between the peoples of both countries, through four main areas such as cross-culture exchanges, education and training, business and investment promotion, and volunteering activities."
"It is clear that Vietnam and Singapore share a common mission and vision, hence, it is important that Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association and Singapore International Foundation have closer cooperation for better understanding between the people of both countries. We look forward to building greater bonds with our Singaporean friends and working together towards common goals for a better ASEAN and world," he wrote.
Established in 1991, Singapore International Foundation bringing Singaporeans and world communities together to uplift lives and effect positive change. In 2017, the foundation and Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association signed an MoU to affirming their strong friendship and efforts to deepen the relations between people of the two countries through cultural, economic, trade, education, charity, tourism, scientific activities.
Q.Hoa t.h / Thoidai
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