Wrapping glutinous rice cake for Tet (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnamese Embassy inthe US held the Xuan Que Huong (Homeland Spring) programme in Washington D.C.on January 6 (US time) to celebrate the traditional Lunar New Year festival, with nearly 600people taking part, including US friends.
Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador tothe US Nguyen Quoc Dung wished the Vietnamese community and US friends a NewYear of health, success and happiness.
He said with delight that Vietnambecame the seventh largest trade partner of the US for the first time in 2022, with two-way trade estimated at about 135 billion USD, up 18% annually.
Vietnam is alsothe fifth biggest source of students in the US, showing that ties between thetwo countries have become increasingly solid and bright, the diplomat said.
On January 7, the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK also held a Tet gatheringin London with the participation of about 200 overseas Vietnamese (OVs), afterthree years of hiatus caused by COVID-19.
In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UK Nguyen Hoang Longaffirmed the Vietnamese Party and State’s consistent policy of considering OVcommunity an inseparable part and important resource of the country.
He informed guests that the Vietnamese economy grew by 8.02%last year, a 12-year record and highest in Asia. Two-way tradebetween Vietnam and the UK rose by 6.5% to 6.14 billion USD last year. Vietnamis now the UK’s second biggest trade partner in Southeast Asia, behindSingapore.
Long added that the embassy will hold various economic, sport,education, tourism and sport activities throughout 2023 to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.
Speaking at a similar event held in BuenosAires on January 7, Vietnamese Ambassador to Argentina Duong Quoc Thanh said the comprehensivepartnership between Vietnam and Argentina has kept growing. The two countriesare preparing for the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic tiesthis year, including visits at all levels.
He wished the Vietnamese community in the host country wouldcontinue staying united to serve as a bridge promoting bilateral traditionalfriendship as well as national development.
Participants at the event also enjoyed traditional Vietnamesefood for Tet such as fried spring rolls, glutinous rice cake and pork meatloaf.
At the event in India (Photo: VNA)
A similar gathering was also held by the Vietnamese Embassy inIndia the same day./.
