Vietnam appreciates US close friend’s people-to-people diplomacy effort

The Ambassador acknowledged McAuliff's enthusiastic opinions on a number of outstanding international issues at UN forums, and hoped that he would continue to coordinate with the Vietnamese Mission as well as relevant agencies to strengthen mutual understanding between the two peoples.

For his part, McAuliff briefed Giang on activities that he himself and the Fund for Reconciliation and Development have implemented in recent times, and plans to connect and strengthen exchange between individuals and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of the US and Vietnam.

He spoke highly of Vietnam's achievements in multilateral foreign affairs, saying he is willing to continue to join upcoming activities of the Mission.

McAuliff, born in 1942, has had a close relationship with the Vietnamese Mission to the UN in New York since Vietnam’s observer mission to the UN was established in 1975.

He was active in the movement of the American people to oppose the war in Vietnam since the late 1960s and mobilised public support to the signing of the Paris Agreement on ending war and restoring peace in Vietnam.

He set up the non-governmental organisation Fund for Reconciliation and Development (FFRD) in 1975, and has operated it for academic exchange and philanthropic activities to promote the normalisation of Vietnam - US relations.