The conference to review people's diplomacy in 2024 and orientations for 2025 (photo: Phuong Hoa/VNA)

As the global situation is changing rapidly, Vietnam’s people-to-people diplomacy in 2025 will take the pioneering role in maintaining a peaceful and stable environment for national development and enhancing Vietnam’s position in the international arena. People’s diplomacy will promote solidarity of overseas Vietnamese and mobilize overseas resources for national socio-economic development in the new period.

Promoting innovation and efficiency in people’s diplomacy

Countries’ adjustments in foreign policies have affected social movements and people's organizations around the world. The 4^th Industrial Revolution has also significantly impacted the way people's organizations around the world rally forces. The networks of Vietnam’s partners and friends have also changed, which requires people-to-people diplomacy to evolve.

At the conference to review people's diplomacy in 2024 and orientations for 2025 in Hanoi on Monday, Head of the Party Central Committee’s External Relations Commission Le Hoai Trung said people's diplomacy organizations should raise high the "proactive, flexible, creative, and effective" motto and identify key contents suiting each partner and sector. He also urged for reforming contents and implementation methods to gain stronger effects.

“People-to-people diplomacy plays a pivotal role in creating a social foundation to foster Vietnam's relations with other countries. We need to adopt a new mindset, build new strategies and plans for people-to-people partnerships, elevate multilateral diplomacy, and do a better job of carrying out overseas Vietnamese affairs,” Trung said.

Journalism serves as an effective channel for people’s diplomacy to promote Vietnam's views on peace, development goals, orientations, and policies to international friends. Head of the Party Central Committee’s Commission for Communications and Education Nguyen Trong Nghia told the 10^th National External Information Awards Ceremony last month: “Through journalistic works, the world can see Vietnam's economic, cultural, educational, and health achievements and Vietnamese people’s aspirations to rise up. These works paint a comprehensive and multi-dimensional picture of Vietnam’s bright future and its people.” 

In 2025 - people’s diplomacy on a par with national rise

2025 will see many big events, such as the 95^th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the 50^th liberation of the South and national reunification, the 135^th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh, the 80^th anniversary of National Day, and the 14^th National Party Congress in the era of national rise. There will be a series of exchange activities and visits between Vietnam and other countries. Vietnam will also participate in multiple multilateral cooperation mechanisms and global forums.

In the new era, people-to-people diplomacy will make the most of all external resources to support national rise. The resources created by more than 5 million overseas Vietnamese are enormous, especially in new fields like digital transformation, green transformation, and artificial intelligence.

Associate Professor Dr. Vu Tuan Hung, Deputy Director of the Social Science Institute and member of the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations, said: “Promoting the role of overseas Vietnamese people is very important, especially in the context of digitization and globalization. We must find new solutions, new methods, and approaches regarding mechanisms and institutions to promote people-to-people diplomacy.”

Throughout history, people's diplomacy has contributed greatly to national liberation, construction, and development and formed a large network of friends and partners. In the new period, people's diplomacy continues to promote "soft power", introduce Vietnam to the world, mobilize resources for national development, and elevate Vietnam’s international status.