The ASEAN flag ceremony held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Hanoi on August 7 (Photo: VNA)The People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on August 9 held a ceremony to fly the ASEAN flag and mark 20 years of Vietnam’s ASEAN membership and the group 48th founding anniversary.
The event drew the attendance of the city’s leaders, and representatives from ministries and agencies, and embassies and consuls general of ASEAN member states.
Speaking at the ceremony, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan highlighted Vietnam’s active contribution to the development of the bloc over the past 20 years.
Ho Chi Minh City has set up twin relationship with six localities of ASEAN countries, he said, adding that ASEAN countries have invested 15 billion USD in more than 1,100 projects in the city.
Chairman Quan affirmed that the city will do its utmost efforts to contribute to building a united, stable and prosperous ASEAN community.
Malaysian Consul General Sofian Akmal Abd Karim said the building of an ASEAN Community is an important task and is a continual process, which requires consensus and support from people from all walks of life from all ASEAN member states.
Established in 1967, the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) groups Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.-VNA
