(NLDO) - A certificate of merit lost while organizing activities to serve a high-ranking delegation, a medal that has been awaited for many years... requires decisive and flexible action
Mr. Phan Anh Son, Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, said that in 2024, the Union will organize thousands of people-to-people diplomacy activities in various fields. Each activity has its own imprints and emotional memories, especially in the fields of peace, friendship and development cooperation.
General Secretary and President To Lam awarded the Friendship Medal to the Cuban Youth Union. Photo: VNA
These stories take place in many different environments, circumstances, and situations; but the common point is that they all demonstrate the spirit of solidarity, consistent loyalty, and helping friends is helping oneself in people-to-people relations. Through that, we can see one of the strengths and effectiveness of people-to-people diplomacy.
Among them, there are 2 stories that left deep and strong impressions on him.
Flexibility in organizing activities to serve high-level delegations
From September 21 to 27, 2024, General Secretary and President To Lam will attend the Future Summit, the 79th United Nations General Assembly, work in the United States and pay a state visit to Cuba. The delegation of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, including President Phan Anh Son and 1 official, will accompany General Secretary and President To Lam on this trip.
In preparation for the event of meeting with the people's friendship representatives and the young generation of Cuba on September 27, the Central Committee for External Relations requested that agencies proactively propose to reward our partners in Cuba, including the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union, which proposed to award the Central Committee of the Cuban Communist Youth Union the Friendship Medal. Because this was a relatively urgent matter, when the delegation officially left by plane, they had not yet received the decision to award the Friendship Medal to their partner.
General Secretary and President To Lam, First Secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba and President of Cuba Miguel Diaz Canel Bermudez and delegates attended the meeting. Photo: VNA
The next day, the Central Committee of the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union sent the Friendship Medal to the Central Committee's Foreign Affairs Committee to bring to Cuba. The Friendship Medal consists of two parts: a certificate of merit and a medal. When arriving in Cuba, the certificate of merit was lost.
The urgent situation requires those working in foreign affairs to have the courage and understanding to make decisions. President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son has asked the Central Committee of the Communist Youth Union of Cuba to prepare a delegation flag for General Secretary and President To Lam to award by pinning the Medal on the delegation flag of the friend, both ensuring political and diplomatic aspects and demonstrating the solemnity of awarding the noble award of the Vietnamese State to a foreign organization.
The event of meeting with the people's friendship representatives and the young generation of Cuba was the first people's diplomacy activity in history attended by the highest leader of the host country. The event was a great success. The incident of losing the certificate of merit was also a lesson in the application of the motto of flexibility, initiative, creativity and effectiveness of those working in people's diplomacy in urgent situations.
Cherish your friends
In May 2024, during a working trip to the Russian Federation to attend Vietnam Week in Saint Petersburg at the invitation of the Chairman of the Saint Petersburg Foreign Affairs Committee, Mr. Phan Anh Son met and worked with Professor Nikolay Mikhailovich Kropachev and Professor Vladimir Nikolaevich Kolotov.
Mr. Phan Anh Son, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, speaking at an event organized by the Union.
Through the exchange, it was known that Professor Nikolay Mikhailovich Kropachev (Rector of the Federal Budgetary Higher Education Agency "Saint Petersburg State University", abbreviated as Saint Petersburg State University) is a person who has made many positive contributions to the development of scientific, educational, cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchange between the two countries, contributing to strengthening and developing the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and the Russian Federation over the past many years.
Professor Vladimir Nikolaevich Kolotov (Director of the Ho Chi Minh Institute of Saint Petersburg State University) has for many years proposed that the Vietnamese side award the Vietnam Friendship Medal to Professor NM Kropachev for his great contributions to the relationship between the two countries. However, for some objective reasons, Professor NM Kropachev has not yet received this noble award. The other side expressed disappointment and also many concerns, according to the friend, about the way of doing things and administrative procedures of the Vietnamese side.
With respect and gratitude for your great contributions over the years, Mr. Phan Anh Son proactively proposed to proceed with the procedure to propose the award of the Friendship Medal of Vietnam to Professor NM Kropachev when he heard the above story. He promised Professor Kropachev that he would do this immediately after returning home from his business trip. At the end of August 2024, the other side sent back the dossier proposing the award of the Friendship Medal to Professor NM Kropachev through the Union. As soon as he received the dossier, Mr. Son directed the Regional Committee to immediately carry out the procedures according to regulations, closely follow the dossier processing process, and closely coordinate with relevant agencies to discuss and clarify issues of concern to all parties.
At 12:00 on May 19, 2024, Ambassador Dang Minh Khoi and Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Phan Anh Son performed a special cannon shot from the historic fortress of the ancient capital of Saint Petersburg to celebrate the 134th birthday of President Ho Chi Minh. Photo: Embassy
On December 3, 2024, the President of Vietnam signed a decision to award the Friendship Medal to Professor Nikolay Mikhailovich Kropachev. Upon receiving the notice from the Union, Professor Kolotov and Professor Kropachev were very surprised and expressed their joy and gratitude for the Union's prompt involvement and drastic promotion of the work.
Professor Kolotov said: "After many years of seemingly deadlocked situations, the problem has now been resolved quickly and effectively. I thank our Vietnamese friends and the President himself very much. We appreciate the President's actions and words. This is a precious value of friends"...
Lots of new activities
In 2024, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations organized 43 outbound delegations and 28 inbound delegations; over 1,000 on-site foreign affairs activities, 5 international conferences/seminars. Notably, the participation of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations in high-level foreign affairs activities of Party and State leaders was outstanding. The Union accompanied 7 high-level delegations of Party and State leaders on working visits to 9 countries, including coordinating/chairing the organization of 9 activities of our Party and State leaders meeting with friends and people of other countries and leaders of other countries meeting with the Vietnamese people.
People-to-people diplomacy activities within the framework of high-level diplomacy not only demonstrate the importance of the Party and State leaders to people-to-people diplomacy in general and the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations in particular, but also demonstrate the Party, State and people of Vietnam's appreciation for the sentiment, solidarity and support and assistance of people of other countries for Vietnam, contributing to building a positive and favorable social foundation for Vietnam's relations with people of other countries.
In addition, the Union presided over and coordinated the reception of many people-to-people diplomatic delegations led by leaders and former leaders of countries, leaders of political parties, leaders of ministries and branches of countries visiting Vietnam... as well as organizing many important people-to-people diplomatic activities with important partners such as China, Laos, Cambodia, Russia, the US, India...,
There are very "new" activities in democracy and human rights work such as: Sending a delegation to attend the International Conference on Religion and the Rule of Law at BYU University, USA and working with a number of US agencies responsible for developing and issuing reports on religion and human rights; welcoming and arranging a visit and working program in Vietnam for a delegation of international Protestant pastors and their relatives and welcoming a delegation of young volunteers from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. These activities will contribute significantly to enhancing understanding and cooperation between international religious organizations and Vietnam; "planting new seeds of friendship and cooperation" in Vietnam - US relations.
The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations has done a good job of expressing gratitude and honoring the contributions of international friends and partners, and has awarded the "For Peace and Friendship among Nations" Medal to 21 individuals are Ambassadors, Consuls General and foreigners; 3 Certificates of Merit for foreign NGOs with many positive contributions to NGO work in Vietnam; recommendation to award Friendship Medal to 5 foreign individuals, 3 Certificates of Merit from the Prime Minister to 1 member organization in the Central and 2 foreign NGOs.
Source: https://nld.com.vn/cau-chuyen-ngoai-giao-nhan-dan-dang-nho-196250130164213932.htm
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