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People's diplomacy is one of the unique creations of the Vietnamese revolution, with its forces structured very specially. The core forces (people's organizations as politico-social organizations) along with a broad spectrum of social strata form a unified front for people's diplomacy.
In the 13th Party Congress Documents, people's diplomacy has been identified for the first time as one of the three pillars of foreign affairs, along with Party diplomacy and State diplomacy, forming a comprehensive and modern Vietnamese diplomacy. Through various revolutionary stages, Hanoi's people's diplomacy has always played a pioneering role and created momentums to help achieve many objectives of the city’s Fartherland Front’s activity.
Hanoi, as the political-administrative center of the Vietnamese nation and a major hub of culture, science, education, economy, and international trade, maintains friendly and cooperative relations with over 100 capitals and major cities worldwide. It has economic and trade relations with nearly 200 countries and territories, and the city hosts nearly 100 embassies and major international organizations and nearly 200 non-governmental organizations. The Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations (HAUFO) has 25 friendship associations and member organizations, with hundreds of affiliated sub-associations and about 40,000 members. Compared to other provinces and cities nationwide, Hanoi has significant strengths and potential in foreign affairs, particularly people's diplomacy. However, it also faces numerous challenges, including the counteractions of hostile forces and opportunists and the subversive tactics of peaceful evolution, which hinder the building and promotion of the great national unity bloc.
In addition to domestic forces, Vietnamese expatriates from Hanoi, i.e. who are studying, working, and residing abroad, are also a potential resource for people's diplomacy. They always try to abide by local laws, turn their hearts to their homeland, preserve and promote Vietnamese cultural identity, and actively contribute to the development of Hanoi and the country in general. The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees at all levels play their role as a bridge between organizations, the homeland and overseas Vietnamese, enabling the latter to realize their aspirations.
The Vietnam Fatherland Front Committees at all levels persuade and mobilize people to implement the Party's foreign policies, the State's diplomatic policies, and people’s diplomacy of the Front and mass organizations. The Vietnam Fatherland Front of Hanoi promotes international solidarity and expands exchange activities with counterpart organizations in the region and the world. For example, recently it has dispatched delegations to Greece, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates for working visits to enhance people's diplomacy, get knowledge of the situation of overseas Vietnamese, exchange experiences, and support the Party and State's policies, as well as to promote national construction. It has also welcomed delegations from the Tibet Autonomous Region Political Consultative Conference, the Singapore People’s Association, and signed memorandums of cooperation with the Vientiane Capital Construction Committee of Laos and the Shanghai People’s Political Consultative Conference of China. It has also coordinated with HAUFO to organize the congress of friendship associations for the 2022-2027 term and assigned officials to participate such friendship associations.
As a member of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Hanoi, HAUFO has organized increasingly diverse and in-depth activities, expanded its membership, and enhanced foreign-oriented information work. Since the congress, 25 new sub-associations of member organizations have been established, increasing the total number by 8%. HAUFO has also consolidated the leadership of its associations and member organizations and promoted the establishment of the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association in Hanoi.
The foreign-oriented information work has achieved many impressive results. HAUFO has coordinated with the Party-building committees of the Hanoi Party Committee and the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Hanoi to promote, disseminate, and implement key directives. These include Directive No. 12-CT/TW dated January 5, 2022, from the Party Central Committee Secretariat, the Hanoi Party Committee's Plan No. 192-KH/TU on externally-oriented information, and Directive No. 05-TT/TU dated May 23, 2022, and November 18, 2023. The goal is to strengthen the Party's leadership and enhance the effectiveness of people's diplomacy in the new situation for cadres and members. This has raised awareness among Party committees, authorities, the Vietnam Fatherland Front, mass organizations, cadres, Party members, and the people of the capital about people's diplomacy. A new aspect of foreign-oriented information work in 2023 is that HAUFO had developed quarterly and annual plans of news provision. This initiative aims to improve the quality of the work and proactively meet externally-oriented information requirements in the era of deep international integration and the Fourth Industrial Revolution. These efforts are promoted through channels such as the "Friendship and Cooperation" bulletin, the haufo.hanoi.gov.vn website, and the fanpage.
According to the 14th Conference for the 17th term (2019-2024) of the Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Hanoi, the personnel work for the upcoming congress ensures compliance with the principles and regulations of the Party’s policy line, State’spolicy, and the Vietnam Fatherland Front Charter. This is based on the criteria for committee members, cadre standards, and the practical requirements of the Front’s work in the new period. The number and structure of the components are reasonable, emphasizing practicality, representativeness, and truly symbolizing the great national unity bloc. The conference has approved 145 delegates to the 18th Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Hanoi and 363 delegates to attend the 18th Congress of the Vietnam Fatherland Front of Hanoi for the 2024-2029 tenure to be held under the theme "Democracy - Unity - Responsibility - Creativity - Development."
Ngoc Khanh