(VOVworld) – 76 collectives and individuals have been honored for their contribution in people to people diplomacy at a conference to review the 2013 emulation movement on Friday.

Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations and Ministry of Foreign Affairs successfully held the ASEAN Cultural Exchange (Photo: cpv.org.vn)

The event was held by the Ho Chi Minh city Union of Friendship Organizations. Amidst economic difficulties and a complicated international context, the Union and its 28 members have organized various activities to promote socialism. This has helped to communicate and teach the spirit of international cooperation, enhance solidarity between countries, and build on people-to-people diplomacy.

In the context of tensions in the East Sea, the Union and its members have carried out campaigns focusing on this issue through people to people diplomacy channels and have called on foreign organizations to support Vietnam in the interest of political and social stability. Phung Cong Dung is Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh city Union of Friendship Organizations: "Over recent years, we have received great responses from friendship organizations inside and outside the country who want to join with the Vietnamese community around the world in their determination to defend the country’s sovereignty. People to people diplomacy must be closely attached to enhancing friendship and solidarity with other countries and protecting national sovereignty".