Vietnam – US Society keeps affirming its role in people-to-people diplomacy

In 2018, VUS receives 17 delegations from the US

VUS recently has held a conference to review its work in 2018 and set plans for 2019.

In 2018, Vietnam-US relations developed well in all fields.

Defense relations developed very well and there were highlights, with the first time the US aircraft carrier visited Vietnam. The two sides also exchanged high-level delegations, namely the visit of the Deputy Prime Minister, Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Defense Minister Ngo Xuan Lich, and Deputy Prime Minister Vuong Dinh Hue. On the US side, it was a visit to Vietnam by US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, US Defense Secretary James Mattis.

Trade relations continue to grow, with two-way turnover of about 60 billion USD.

In this context, the Vietnam-US Association has implemented many activities, contributing to promoting peace, solidarity and friendship between the people of Vietnam and the US.

Typically, a series of exchanges of people, veterans as well as veterans' relatives of the two countries on the occasion of the 45th anniversary of the signing of the Paris Agreement, 50 years the My Lai massacre, 5thanniversary Vietnam – US comprehensive partnership", 73rd of Vietnam – US Society.

Concerning the "Two-sided Project" (2SP), in 2018, the Association organized 4 exchanges between offspring of Vietnamese martyrs and US martyrs’ offspring, in Hanoi, Nam Dinh, Ho Chi Minh and Long An. Many people in the 2SP project said they had found peace and relief witnessing where their father fell down. The US side has a plan to mobilize funding to invite more Vietnamese martyrs’ offspring to visit the US. Thereby helping the two sides have a two-way approach to better understand each other in the future.

In 2018, the Vietnam-US Association kept attaching peaceful activities with humanitarian assistance, overcoming the consequences of war, helping victims of landmines and Agent Orange.

Some NGOs have mobilized millions of dollars for humanitarian projects. These include PeaceTrees Vietnam and Project RENEW which are committed by USAID to grant about $ 2 million from 2019-2022.

In general, in 2018, the activities of the Vietnam - US Association continued to be maintained and expanded, contributing to the prestige of the Vietnam - US Association, contributing to the overall achievement the Vietnam Union Friendship Organization in the field of people-to-people diplomacy.

VNF