In his opening speech, Deputy PM and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh spoke highly of FNGOs’ effective cooperation with and valuable support for Vietnam over the past decade.

Minh briefed the meeting on Vietnam’s renewal achievements, attributing the country’s UN poverty reduction Millennium Development Goal success to steady economic growth and improving social welfare.

He expressed his hope FNGOs will commit to expanding cooperation and offer Vietnam additional support.

The Vietnamese Government pledges to ensure its legislation and grant FNGO aid activities the best chance for success. Minh encouraged delegates to work on increasing cooperative efficiency and protecting amiable relations.

Deputy Foreign Minister Ha Kim Ngoc and Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) President Vu Xuan Hong echoed Minh’s praises for FNGOs’ contributions to the friendship between Vietnamese people and international friends.

The last decade of FNGO operations, following Vietnam’s socio-economic development orientations, have helped the country reduce poverty and ensure sustainable economic development.

VUFO President Hong affirmed his organisation’s determination to serve as a bridge for cooperation between FNGOs and their Vietnamese partners. He also offered FNGOs VUFO legal consultancy.

NGO Resource Centre Co-Managing Director Marko Lovrekovic applauded Vietnam’s efforts to reduce poverty, boost socio-economic development, and introduce laws permitting deeper FNGO involvement in the country’s development process.

The number of FNGOs in Vietnam has increased from 400 in 2003 to more than 950 in 2013. The 2003–2013 period has seen in excess of 28,000 FNGO projects implemented with disbursed capital totalling nearly US$2.4 billion.

FNGO activities are focused on healthcare, education and training, socio-economic development, and natural resources and the environment. They are proceeding in 63 Vietnamese provinces and cities.