Vietnam’s National Day celebrated overseas

The US – The Vietnamese embassy in the US organized a solemn ceremony to celebrate the 66^th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day on September 1 (US time).

The ceremony saw the participation of an array of senior US officials such as Under Secretary of State Patrick Kennedy, Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell, Under Secretary of Commerce Francisco Sanchez, Under Secretary of Defence Michael Vickers, NASA director Charles Bolden and the Ambassadors of ASEAN countries.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to the US Nguyen Quoc Cuong generalized the historic path that the Vietnamese people have taken over more than six decades.

“The world no longer considers Vietnam as a war but sees it as a bustling, high potential market with a population of more than 87 million people,” Mr. Cuong told the ceremony attendees. “Vietnam nowadays has been recognized widely as a reliable, responsible and dynamic partner in the international community. The country has gained important achievements in its road to the target of a wealthy population, a strong nation, and an equal, democratic and civilized society.”

Ambassador Cuong highly appreciated the development of Vietnam-US ties in many fields. Both countries have made firm progress through regular high-ranking dialogues and meetings regarding politics, security and defence. The US has become Vietnam’s largest export market while Vietnam is the ASEAN country which boasts the largest number of students studying in the US.

Mr. Cuong also noted that both Vietnam and the US share strategic interests in preserving and bolstering peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region.

Meanwhile, US Under Secretary of State Patrick Kennedy said that Vietnam is becoming an important market for US goods and services and stressed that both countries benefit from bilateral cooperation.

Assistant Secretary of State Kurt Campbell expressed his confidence in future Vietnam-US relations and reiterated the sentiment that the two countries should work together on a specific roadmap to enhance bilateral ties to a new height.

Russia -  Russia’s Deputy Foreign Minister Mikhail Bogdanov, representatives of Russian ministries and ambassadors of ASEAN countries in Russia attended a banquet held by the Vietnamese embassy in Moscow on September 1 in celebration of Vietnam’s National Day.

Addressing the banquet, Ambassador Pham Xuan Son reviewed the historic path that the Vietnamese people have gone through, highlighting the significance of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2). He also gave his thanks to the previous Soviet Union people and the current Russian people for helping Vietnam in its struggle for national independence and in its process of national construction.

Son stressed that the traditional ties between Vietnam and Russia have developed into a strategic partnership in the interests of both countries’ people as well as for the sake of peace, stability and prosperity in the world.

Japan - Also on the evening of September 1, the Vietnamese embassy in Japan hosted a banquet to mark Vietnam’s National Day, with the attendance of Japan’s former Prime Minister Yasui Fukuda and a wide range of representatives of Japanese political parties and agencies.

During the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Phu Binh affirmed that Vietnam has received remarkable support from Japan, who has become Vietnam’s reliable companion and leading strategic partner.

The Head of the Policy Research Department under Japan’s ruling Democratic Party, Seiji Maehara, sent his congratulations to Vietnamese people on the occasion. He also said that he has been extremely impressed by Vietnam’s rapid and continued development.

Maehara added that both Vietnamese and Japanese leaders share the common awareness that the relations between Vietnam and Japan are displayed in many fields, and not only in economic cooperation.

Cambodia – The Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh held a similar banquet on September 1. Participants in the event included President of the Cambodian National Assembly Heng Samrin, and Cambodia’s Deputy Prime Minister-cum-Foreign Minister Hor Namhong.

At the banquet, Vietnamese Ambassador Ngo Anh Dung highlighted Vietnam’s huge accomplishments in many areas such as protecting national independence and sovereignty, improving people’s living standards and raising the country’s status in the international arena.

On behalf of the Cambodian government and people, Hor Namhong congratulated the Vietnamese Party, State and people on the occasion of National Day.

Namhong stated that the demarcation project of the borders between Vietnam and Cambodia is 75 percent completed. He added that bilateral trade value hit US$1.8 billion in 2010 and is expected to reach US$2 billion by the end of this year. According to the Cambodian official, Vietnam has invested up to US$150 million in Cambodia. The number of Vietnamese tourists to Cambodia also rose a massive 18.5 percent in the first four months of this year.

Before the banquet staff of the Vietnamese embassy in Cambodia and overseas Vietnamese laid wreaths at a monument to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who were killed in the wars in Cambodia.

Laos – on the evening of September 1, the Vietnamese embassy in Vientiane held a ceremony to mark Vietnam’s National Day.

The event was attended by senior Lao officials such as Deputy Prime Minister-cum Foreign Minister Thonglouin Siuslith, Vice President of the National Assembly Saysomphon Phomvihane, and many other ministers and deputy ministers as well as diplomatic corps and overseas Vietnamese.

Vietnamese Ambassador Ta Minh Chau reviewed the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam after the August Revolution of 1945, which liberated Vietnamese people from the rule of feudalism and colonialism.

Chau said that after 25 years of economic renovation, Vietnam has reaped more developmental steps and raised its income per capita to nearly US$1,200, while also maintaining social and political stability.

In his speech, Ambassador Chau extended thanks to the leaders of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party as well as Lao people for having contributed to the liberation and construction of a socialist Vietnam.

The attendees were also treated to many art shows rich in Vietnamese culture.

The UK- in London, on September 1, the Vietnamese Embassy held a ceremony to celebrate the day and laid a wreath at the Carlton Hotel, where President Ho Chi Minh worked during his stay in London from 1913-1917.

Close friends of Vietnamese people, Len Aldis, President of the UK-Vietnam Friendship Association and John Callow, Director of the Marx Memorial Library were present at the activities and spoke highly of President Ho Chi Minh.

UN- Secretary General Ban Ki-moon has sent a letter to State President Truong Tan Sang to extend his congratulations to Vietnam on the occasion of National Day.

He said: “It is my great pleasure to extend to you and to the Government and people of Viet Nam my warmest congratulations on the occasion of the Independence Day. I am encouraged to know that I can count on the leadership, dedication and support of Viet Nam in our continuing endeavour to build a sustainable, safe and just world for all.”

Cuba- in Havana, Cuba, the reception to mark Vietnam’s National Day was attended by Deputy President of the State Council of Cuba Ulises Rosales del Toro, Moncada Heroine Melba Hernandez and President of the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association Yolanda Ferrer.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Cuba Vu Chi Cong thanked the Cuban Party, government and people for their support and solidarity to Vietnam’s just struggle for national independence, describing it as a great encouragement to help Vietnam to overcome past difficulties. He also expressed his pleasure at the constant development of the traditional solidarity, fraternal friendship and comprehensive cooperation.

India- in New Delhi, the Vietnamese Embassy held a ceremony to mark National Day in the presence of the State Secretary for Earth Sciences Ashwami Kumar and General Secretary of the Communist Party of India A. B. Bardhan.

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Tan affirmed that traditional relations and strategic partnership between the two countries had been developing broadly in economics, trade, politics, security and national defence.