Vu Xuan Hong, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations’ President in his address at the ceremony (Photo: An Dang/VNA)
(VOVworld) – A ceremony was held in Hanoi on Monday to mark the 64th anniversary of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. Vu Xuan Hong, the Union’s President, said generations of its staff have worked with Party and government personnel to uphold President Ho Chi Minh’s diplomatic thought in the struggle for national liberation and construction.

In the current period of international integration, Vietnam has set a goal of becoming an industrialized nation by 2020. To that end, people-to-people diplomacy holds a great responsibility. Former President Nguyen Thi Binh, former Chairwoman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam Peace and Development Foundation, addressed the function:

“Vietnam is entering a new period so external affairs should learn the key lessons of the past and add new lessons appropriate to the current situation. The lesson on national and international unity is more significant than ever. We should develop international ties which support us in the defense of our national sovereignty and provide experience and financing for our development.”