A get-together was held in Ho Chi Minh City on June 30 to mark the 235th Independence Day anniversary of the US (July 4).

President of the Vietnam-US Friendship Association Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong said the cooperative relationship between Vietnam and the US continues to be promoted in various fields, including education-training, security-defence, economics, trade and culture.

At present, the US is one of the 10 biggest investors in Vietnam. Two-way trade has constantly increased, hitting 18.3 billion USD in 2010, the highest level since the two countries set up diplomatic ties in 1995.

US Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Le Thanh An praised the contributions of the Ho Chi Minh City Chapter of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations and the Vietnam-US Friendship Association to the development of the Vietnam-US relationship./.