Participants at the conference (Photo: VGP/Hai Minh)
(VOVworld) – Vietnam has considered its relationship with foreign non-governmental organizations as a channel of the people-to-people diplomacy to implement Vietnam’s foreign policy.
At the third international conference on cooperation between Vietnam and foreign NGOs in Hanoi on Thursday, Don Tuan Phong, Vice Chairman of the Committee for Foreign NGO Affairs said that as a middle-income nation, Vietnam is no longer in the priority list of foreign donors. Therefore, the Vietnamese Party and State treasure the valuable and efficient support of governmental, non-governmental as well as international organizations. Phong said:
“Over the past 20 years, foreign NGOs have significantly contributed to Vietnam’s poverty reduction and development helping us to handle socio-economic difficulties. Vietnam hopes that in the future, NGOs will continue working with Vietnamese ministries, agencies, provinces, and partners to resolve challenges to help Vietnam grow sustainably.”
The two-day conference assesses the outcomes of cooperation over the last decade and discusses Vietnam’s priorities and needs on socio-economic development from now until 2017 as well as future cooperation. Participants have also used the occasion to exchange information, experiences and lessons. The conference has drawn nearly 800 guests, including representatives of NGOs, bilateral and multilateral development agencies, donors, embassies, research institutes, Vietnamese ministries, branches, provincial People’s Committees and people’s organisations.
Vietnam has, so far, established ties with around 950 foreign NGOs who have implemented thousands of programmes, projects and, aid packages in healthcare, education and training, socio-economic development, natural resources, and environment.