Speaking at the ceremony on August 6 to celebrate Singapore’s 44^th National Day and the 5^th anniversary of the Vietnam-Singapore Friendship Association (VSFA), the Singaporean Consul General confirmed that the framework agreement on economic links between Vietnam and Singapore is a solid foundation that acts as a catalyst for close links between the two economies.
He said in addition to economic ties, he highly appreciates the close relationship between the people of the two countries and the important role the friendship association has played in bringing them closer together through its innovative activities.

“The close bilateral relationship between the two nations is well reflected in Ho Chi Minh City ,” he added.

So far, the city’s efforts in human resources development have benefited from over 10 training cooperation programmes, both short and long-term, with the Nayang Technology University (NTU).

The southern hub has also become home to numerous companies from the island state and around 3,000 Singaporean people.

VSFA President Nguyen Thanh Rum, who is also Director of the municipal department of culture, sports and tourism, said the association’s ultimate goal is to help develop the relationship between the people of the two countries in the spirit of building a Southeast Asian community by 2015 as defined in the ASEAN Charter.

On the occasion, a collection of more than 80 old pictures of Sai Gon – the former name of the city – and Vietnam during the French colonial period is being put on display for public view.

The photos, shot between 1920 and 1925 by the French, were collected and carefully preserved by Soh Weng Yew, an admission officer at the Singapore National University for the last 10 years.