When Vietnam declared independence on September 2, 1945, President Ho Chi Minh conveyed a clear message that Vietnam wants to be friends with all other democratic countries and doesn’t want to be the enemy of anyone. Vietnam’s goals are freedom, independence, democracy, and peace. Any country in the world that shares those goals is a friend of Vietnam, President Ho Chi Minh said.
On November 17, 1950, President Ho Chi Minh sent a letter to the World Congress to establish the World Peace Council, a model for Vietnam’s Peace Council and the Union of Peace, Solidarity, and Friendship, now the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations. Since then VUFO has observed November 17 as its traditional day.
Over the last 7 decades, VUFO has established relations with more than 1,000 national, regional, and global organizations. It is the key Vietnamese body organizing people exchanges to promote peace, solidarity, and friendship.
International friends have consistently supported Vietnam’s stance of maintaining global peace by complying with international law, enhancing integration, and cooperating in development.
While the COVID-19 pandemic has spread worldwide, VUFO’s branches have raised funds and donated money and medical equipment worth more than 430,000 USD to its partners and people in affected countries.
Phan Anh Sơn, VUFO’s Vice President and Secretary General, said: “VUFO and its branches have launched activities to help Vietnamese people in other countries survive the pandemic. In 2020, the Union has also organized activities to mark important events like the 70th anniversary of Vietnam-China diplomatic ties and the 25th anniversary of the normalization of Vietnam-US relations.”
VUFO has played an important role in Vietnam’s external affairs, helping the Vietnamese Party and State enhance Vietnam’s friendship and cooperation with other countries.