Participants included Mrs. Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, Member of the Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee; Standing Vice Chairman of Hanoi People's Committee; Mr. Vu Hong Khanh, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; Mr. Bui Khac Son, Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations, Mr. Nguyen Van Suu; Mrs. Nguyen Lan Huong, Member of Standing Committee, Head of Commission for Mass Mobilization and more than 300 representatives from the departments of the city and the diplomatic organizations in the capital.

Performance at the beginning

Mrs. Nguyen Lan Huong, Member of Standing Committee, Head of Commission for Mass Mobilization, Chairwoman of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations spoke at the meeting.

Mrs. Nguyen Lan Huong, Member of Hanoi's Standing Committee, Head of Hanoi's Commission for Mass Mobilization, Chairwoman of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations affirmed that in the past five years, the people's external relations have identified key tasks with specific steps which are deployed in three aspects: political diplomacy, economic diplomacy and cultural diplomacy. At this Congress, the 4th Executive Committee will objectively evaluate the people's progress in the past 5 years to set objectives, tasks and solutions for the next five years.
In the 2017-2022 period, the Union shall continue to expand and improve the effectiveness of activities on peace, friendship and international cooperation, public relations work and promote economic cooperation.
Through discussion, the Congress elected the 5th Executive Committee for 2017-2022 period including 45 members. In particular, Mrs. Nguyen Lan Huong, Head of Commission for Mass Mobilization was elected as chairwoman and Mr. Can Viet Nam was elected as standing Vice Chairman of Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations.
In addition, the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations was honored to receive the first-class Labor Medal for the second time.
On behalf of the city leaders, Mrs. Ngo Thi Thanh Hang, Member of the Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee warmly praised the achievements of the Union and the Friendship Organizations and the members in last term.

Mrs. Ngo Thi Thanh Hang (left), Member of the Central Committee, Deputy Secretary of the Hanoi Party Committee, awarded the First- Class Labor Medal to the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations.

Speaking at the meeting, Hang said that with the motto "active, flexible, creative and effective", the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations should actively coordinate with all levels, branches and the political system, especially the member units of the Union, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and international organizations in Hanoi to carry out the people's external relation activities.
In addition, the Union should enhance and improve the quality of information, propaganda and publicity, contributing to enable foreign countries fully aware of Hanoi as well as the State policies and laws; thereby take the advantage of international support and assistance to protect the capital while raising awareness and understanding of the residents on the policy, the world situation and global issues.
"Finally, shortly after the Congress, the Executive Board of Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations (fifth term) should urgently develop and promulgate working regulations, assign responsibility on the basis of promoting strengths of each member, actively advise the Party committees and administrations at all levels on undertakings and measures on Hanoi's People-to-people diplomacy. At the same time, the committee should also focus on deploying resolutions of the Congress to its branches and officials, employees and members, creating unity in awareness and action on the People's External Relations", Hang pressed.