On 15 September in Hanoi, Vietnam’s President and General Secretary To Lam met with the leadership of the 7th term (2026‑2031) of the Vietnam Friendship Organizations Union. In his remarks, he stressed that as the country enters a new diplomatic phase, people‑to‑people (đối ngoại nhân dân) outreach must evolve from mere goodwill to solid trust, turning relationships into concrete resources for national development. To Lam called for the creation of deep, connective networks capable of mobilising expertise, investment and innovation, and warned against the “each does their own thing” (mạnh ai nấy làm) pattern that scatters resources.
Flexible Dialogue Channel
He advocated a flexible, supplementary dialogue channel that works alongside Party foreign affairs and state diplomacy to address complex bilateral issues. Expanding ties with foreign legislators, scholars and CEOs, while nurturing the enthusiasm of Vietnamese youth, was highlighted as essential. Overseas Vietnamese intellectuals and entrepreneurs should be enabled to act as natural goodwill ambassadors.
Role of the Union
The President‑General Secretary tasked the Union to become a core advisory body for the Fatherland Front, coordinating the external activities of political‑social organisations, mass associations and localities. He urged the Union and its member groups to proactively propose initiatives, demonstrate results, and align with a “quality over quantity” (quý hồ tinh bất quý hồ đa) approach.
Institutional Reforms
To streamline cooperation, To Lam proposed institutional reforms:
- faster inter‑agency information sharing
- staff training and rotation
- a flexible financing model based on orders and task contracts
These measures aim to eliminate bottlenecks, ensure coherent policy implementation, and position the Friendship Organizations Union as a sharp, proactive instrument of Vietnam’s foreign outreach.