Hanoi (VNA) – Agathering of diplomatic representative agencies, international and foreignnon-governmental organisations was held in Hanoi on January 16, ahead of theupcoming Lunar New Year festival.

Speaking at the event, Chairwomanof the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), Ambassador NguyenPhuong Nga lauded achievements in people-to-people diplomacy last year,contributing to strengthening friendship between peoples of Vietnamese andcountries.

Non-governmental aid forVietnam neared 280 million USD, contributing to socio-economic development,health care, education, environment protection, climate change response andovercoming war consequences, he said.

As VUFO will celebrate its 70thfounding anniversary this year, Nga said VUFO will continue working closelywith foreign partners and do its best for national development, as well as forpeace, friendship, cooperation and development in the world.

Palestinian Ambassador toVietnam Saadi Salama, who is also head of the diplomatic corps in Vietnam, expressedreadiness to further reinforce multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam andcountries, international organisations worldwide.

Vietnamese NA Vice ChairmanUong Chu Luu congratulated the VUFO and the Committee forForeign NGO Affairs ontheir achievements at the central and local levels over the past years.

As Vietnamwill hold a number of important events and serve as ASEAN Chair, Chair of the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly, and anon-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020-2021 tenure forthis first time this year, he hoped that international partners will continuepartnering with the country for its development./.