Trần Thanh Mẫn, President of the 8th-tenure Vietnam Fatherland Front (VFF) Central Committee continues to be President of the 9th-tenure VFF Central Committee for the 2019-2024. Delegates at the first session of the 9th-tenure VFF Central Committee in Hanoi on September 20 voted for the position. VNA/VNS Photo

HÀ NỘI — The ninth National Congress of the Việt Nam Fatherland Front (VFF) yesterday sought measures to improve the efficiency of its local chapters and member organisations by encouraging the engagement of members and reinforcing the national solidarity bloc.

According to Phan Bích Thiên, President of the Vietnamese Women’s Association in Hungary, thanks to the attention from the Party, State and the VFF, the Vietnamese community abroad has promoted its role in people diplomacy and made more contributions to the homeland in recent years.

She maintained it was necessary to pay more attention to build organisations, unions and clubs for the Vietnamese communities in each country, while diversifying the forms of organisations to suit different groups, further enhancing their role in people diplomatic activities.

She said it was also crucial to mobilise Vietnamese intellectuals, experts, entrepreneurs and those with strong influence in the community to get involved in strengthening the relations between the host countries and Vietnam.

She also proposed the VFF design policies to support members to expand connections with relevant organisations in other countries.

Meanwhile, Venerable Thích Thiện Nhơn, Vice President of the 8th VFF Central Committee and President of the Vietnam Buddhist Sangha (VBS)’s Executive Council, said that ensuring religious solidarity had remained significant.

He pledged the VBS would continue working hard to build a peaceful and good life while contributing to developing the national unity bloc in the new period.

According to Priest Trần Xuân Mạnh, Vice President of the 8th VFF Central Committee and President of the Committee for Solidarity of Vietnamese Catholics, the 7 million Catholics of Việt Nam are highly aware of their responsibilities with the motherland.

The committee has encouraged them to engage in building the country towards sustainable development and harmonious growth of economy, socio-culture and environment.

Catholics have donated trillions of VND and thousands of working days as well as land for road construction as part of the new-style rural area building programme.

The Catholic community has also actively participated in charity activities such as giving free health check-ups to the poor and caring for public health.

VFF's members

Delegates attending the ninth Congress also adopted the charter of the organisation, while appointing members of the VFF Central Committee.

The charter comprises eight chapters and 37 articles, one article more than in the previous tenure. It contains a new article on relations between the VFF and member organisations.

Accordingly, the VFF Central Committee and its member organisations will have co-ordinating relations, with the VFF committee playing the key role, working with member organisations through democratic discussions to implement tasks and action programmes designed by the VFF.

Regarding the number of the members of the VFF Central Committee the 2019-2024, delegates agreed to maintain it at 385. At the session, 374 members of the committee were appointed, while the rest will be added later.

The members include representatives from member organisations and different groups and classes from all walks of life.

A total 187 of the members are not Party members, 80 female, 98 from ethnic minority groups, and 84 followers of different religions. Meanwhile, 301 members of the committee, or 80.1 per cent, are university graduates.

In terms of age, 44 members of VFF Central Committee are under 40, 182 from 44-60, and 148 over 60.

VFF's ninth congress concluded yesterday after three days of working. The closing session was attended by Politburo members – Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, Deputy Prime Minister Vương Đình Huệ, and head of the Party Central Committee’s Mass Mobilisation Commission Trương Thị Mai. — VNS