International Friendship Exchange – Spring 2023 held in Lao Cai

Lao Cai (VNA) – The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), in collaboration with Lao Cai province, held the International Friendship Exchange – Spring 2023 in the northern mountainous province on March 26-27.

The event attracted the participation of 150 delegates from foreign embassies, and international organisations, and foreign non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Vietnam.

This is an annual activity held by VUFO to create a chance for international friends to visit historical and cultural relic sites and landscapes, and exchange with local authorities and people to learn more about the land, people and culture of Vietnam as well as cooperation opportunities with its localities.

Within the framework of this year's event, delegates climbed up to the top of Mount Fansipan, the highest peak in Indochina.

VUFO President Ambassador Nguyen Phuong Nga, said that the union has been providing support for around 400 foreign NGOs which are operating in Vietnam to carry out programmes and projects for humanitarian and development purposes, with the aid budget disbursed in recent years reaching 220-280 million USD per year.

In Lao Cai, there are currently 34 organisations which are supporting local partners to implement programmes and projects in health, education, improving locals' livelihoods, and addressing social problems, added Nga.

On this occasion, some foreign NGOs pledged to expand, extend and fund new projects in Lao Cai, with total capital of over 2 million USD.

France's Enfance Partienariat Viet Nam và Espoir Pour un Enfant presented scholarships totaling more than 3,000 USD to poor students in the locality./.

VNA