VietNamNet spoke with Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, about recent achievements and future directions.

Editor's note: Tet is a time to reflect on our roots and enjoy the warmth of reunion with family and loved ones. It is also a special moment to look back on the past and step into a new year with hope and confidence in better things to come.

As we welcome the Year of the Snake, VietNamNet shares stories about Tet, the nation's global standing, and the new era of Vietnam’s growth and progress.

Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, shared that in 2024, the union organized thousands of people-to-people diplomatic activities across various fields. Each activity left its mark and carried touching memories, particularly in the areas of peace, friendship, and development cooperation.

These stories unfolded in different settings, circumstances, and situations, yet they all embodied the spirit of solidarity and unwavering loyalty. Helping friends is helping ourselves in people-to-people relations, leaving profound and lasting impressions.

In September 2024, General Secretary and President To Lam paid a state visit to Cuba. To prepare for the meeting with Cuban friendship delegates and youth representatives on September 27, the Central Commission for External Relations instructed relevant agencies to propose commendations. The Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union recommended awarding the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Youth Union the Friendship Medal.

Since the process was rushed, the official delegation had already departed before the award decision was issued. The following day, the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union sent the Friendship Medal to the delegation of the Central Commission for External Relations to deliver to Cuba. The award included a certificate and a medal.

Phan Anh Son suggested that the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Youth Union prepare a flag so that General Secretary and President To Lam could affix the medal to it during the ceremony.

According to Son, this approach ensured both the political and diplomatic significance of presenting Vietnam’s prestigious state award to a foreign organization in a dignified manner. The event, which marked the first time in history that Cuba’s highest leader attended a people-to-people diplomatic gathering, was a resounding success.

"In May 2024, during a working visit to Russia for Vietnam Week in Saint Petersburg at the invitation of the Chairman of the Saint Petersburg Foreign Affairs Committee, I had the opportunity to meet and work with Professor Nikolay Mikhailovich Kropachev and Professor Vladimir Nikolaevich Kolotov," Son recalled.

Professor Nikolay Mikhailovich Kropachev, Rector of Saint Petersburg State University, has significantly contributed to scientific, educational, cultural cooperation, and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

For many years, Professor Vladimir Nikolaevich Kolotov, Director of the Ho Chi Minh Institute at Saint Petersburg State University, had advocated for awarding Professor Kropachev the Friendship Medal in recognition of his invaluable contributions.

"The Russian side had some concerns. Out of deep respect and appreciation for their contributions, I took the initiative to propose the necessary procedures for Vietnam to award the Friendship Medal to Professor Kropachev. I assured him that I would immediately begin the process upon my return," Son said.

At the end of August 2024, the Russian side submitted the award application through the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. As soon as the documents were received, Son promptly directed the necessary procedures, closely following the process and working with relevant agencies to clarify any concerns.

On December 3, 2024, the President of Vietnam signed the decision to award the Friendship Medal to Professor Kropachev. Upon receiving the news, Professors Kolotov and Kropachev were both surprised and delighted by the swift and determined actions taken by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. Kolotov expressed that after years of seeming deadlock, the issue had been resolved quickly and effectively.

The year 2024 saw a comprehensive and effective implementation of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations’ diplomatic activities. The union organized 43 outbound delegations, 28 inbound delegations, over 1,000 domestic diplomatic activities, and five international conferences and seminars.

Notably, the union played a key role in high-level diplomatic activities involving Vietnam’s Party and state leaders.

During the October 2024 visit to France for the Francophonie Summit, General Secretary To Lam met with nearly 30 distinguished Vietnamese expatriate intellectuals from France, the UK, Belgium, Canada, Luxembourg, and Switzerland.

The union coordinated and led nine events where Vietnamese leaders met with foreign friends and citizens, as well as where foreign leaders engaged with the Vietnamese people.

Son emphasized that these people-to-people diplomatic activities at the highest level underscored the Party and state’s commitment to public diplomacy and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. They also reflected Vietnam’s deep gratitude for the solidarity, support, and assistance extended by people around the world.

A year of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and China, Russia, and the US

Phan Anh Son affirmed that Vietnam’s people-to-people diplomacy, including organizations within the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, has accompanied the nation through different eras.

As a socio-political organization, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations serves as a core force in people-to-people diplomacy - one of the three pillars of Vietnam’s comprehensive and modern foreign policy.

The union continues to strengthen its network, which consists of over 110 member organizations at the central and local levels and more than 1,000 partners, including international agencies, political and diplomatic forums, social organizations, businesses, intellectuals, and the overseas Vietnamese community across more than 100 countries and territories.

People-to-people diplomacy has made significant contributions to Vietnam’s era of independence, self-reliance, and development.

Looking ahead to 2025, a year filled with significant national and diplomatic milestones, various commemorative events will be held, including the 75th anniversary of Vietnam-Russia diplomatic relations and the establishment of the Vietnam-Soviet/Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association in May.

The first Vietnam-Russia People’s Forum in 2025, eagerly anticipated by Russian partners, will gather representatives from various fields, including science, technology, culture, education, and tourism. Son highlighted that the forum would create a lasting mechanism for people-to-people cooperation, further strengthening Vietnam-Russia relations.

With China, the 75th anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic relations will be marked by the 13th Vietnam-China People’s Forum and a series of events under the “Vietnam-China Year of Cultural Exchanges.”

To celebrate 30 years of Vietnam-US relations, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the US Embassy will co-host a Vietnam-US relations seminar and four friendship exchange events in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Can Tho, and Da Nang.

The Vietnam-US Association and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations will also organize meetings and discussions between war veterans and their families from both countries to promote reconciliation and healing.

Tran Thuong