National Day celebration ceremony in Cambodia (Photo: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Embassy in Pretoria, South Africa on September 1 held a ceremony to mark the 71st anniversary of the National Day, which gathered 500 guests from the host country as well as representatives from international diplomatic delegations and the Vietnamese community in South Africa and neighbouring countries.
Addressing the event, Ambassador to South Africa Le Huy Hoang highlighted the historical significance of the August Revolution in 1945 and the National Day, opening up a new era of independence, freedom and happiness for Vietnamese people.
He reviewed major achievements of Vietnam during the past 71 years in all fields as well as the country’s policy to strengthen cooperation with all countries in the settlement of issues on the basis of respect for international law, contributing to peace and development in the region and the world.
The ambassador affirmed that Vietnam attaches much attention to the fostering of comprehensive partnership with South Africa, a member of the BRICS and a gateway to the Africa.
He expressed hope his that the tow sides will continue boosting ties in trade, education, security, defence, and striving to raise two-way trade to 3 billion USD in the next two or three years from the current 1.2 billion USD.
Meanwhile, South Africa Deputy Minister of Housing Zou Kota-Fredericks stated that his country’s Government always highly values traditional friendship and cooperation with Vietnam , which was founded and nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and President Nelson Mandela.
He said he hope the Vietnam visit by South African Vice President Cyril Ramaphosa this year will create a new momentum for the growth of the all-round partnership between the two countries, especially in trade, investment, education, security and defence.
During the event, strong products of Vietnam, including coffee, were also introduced.
Also on September 1, the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos also held a ceremony to mark the National Day, with the attendance of Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister Sonsay Siphadone, Deputy National Assembly Chairman Sengnoun Sayalath, and a number of senior officials of Laos.
Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Manh Hung thanked Laos for discharging water from its reservoirs to help Vietnam ’s Mekong Delta region, which was seriously hit by drought and saltwater intrusion.
He also appreciated that the Lao Government have supported the Vietnamese community in the country and created favourable for Vietnamese investors.
The same day, a solemn ceremony was also held in Phnom Penh , Cambodia , gathering Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia Men Sam On and a number of senior leaders of the host country.
Speaking at the event, Ambassador Thach Du underscored Vietnam ’s constant external policy of independence, self-reliance, cooperation, multilateralisation and diversification, as well as the country’s willing to be friend and trustworthy partner as well as responsible member of the international community.
Vietnam and Cambodia have shared a long-term relations and solidarity as well as mutual support during the struggle for independence in each country, he noted, speaking highly Cambodia ’s help in repatriation of Vietnam ’s volunteer soldiers fell down in Cambodia .
He expressed belief that bilateral ties and the neighbourliness of Vietnam and Cambodia will continue to thrive.
Cambodia Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhnonn thanked the support and sacrifice that Vietnamese volunteer soldiers made to save Cambodian people from genocide disaster in 1979.
Prak Shokhonn also noted that so far, Cambodia and Vietnam have finnished 83 percent of their border demarcation and are working closely to deal with remaining differences for the interest of both peoples.
At the same time, economic ties between the two countries have progressed, with two-way trade reaching 3.3 billion USD in 2015. Both sides are striving to raise the figure to 5 billion USD in the future, he said.
As a major investor in Cambodia , Vietnam invested nearly 90 million USD to Cambodia in 2015 from 49 million in 2014, he said, adding that the number of Vietnamese tourists to Cambodia also surged in recent years to reach nearly 1 million annually.
Earlier on September 1, Ambassador Thanh Du and representatives from the Vietnamese community in Cambodia laid flora at the monument of Vietnamese volunteer soliders who laid down their lives in Cambodia .
On the occasion of the National Day, the Vietnamese Consulate General in Japan ’s Osaka prefecture hosted a banquet to celebrate the special day, with the participation of representative from Japan ’s Foreign Ministry and the Japanese Government in Kansia region Suzuki Yoichi, Shiga Prefecture Governor Taizo Mikazuki, Sakai city Mayor Takeyama Osami, together with more than 400 guests.
Addressing the event, Vietnamese Consul-General in Osaka Tran Duc Binh affirmed that Vietnam will continue cooperating with governments in Japan’s localities to support businesses of Osaka and Kansai regions to expand partnership with Vietnamese firms, contributing to boosting the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Japan.
Meanwhile, the Japanese side lauded commitments and assistance that Vietnamese Government have implemented to improve domestic investment and business environment. They pledged to encourage local enterprises to expand their investment in Vietnam.-VNA
