The Association of Vietnamese Students in the UK (SVUK) has played an effective role in joint activities to enhance the friendship between Vietnam and the UK, according to a representative of the Vietnamese Embassy in the UK.

Addressing the SVUK’s recent annual congress, Minister-Counsellor Le Thi Thu Hang particularly praised the contribution that the students had made to the success of several important events held this year to mark the 40th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between the two countries. These included the visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, the inaugural of a stelae marking 100 years since President Ho Chi Minh first arrived in the UK, and festivals introducing Vietnam in London and Edinburgh .

The president of SVUK for 2012-2013 term, Bui Cam Van reported that the organisation has actively participated in charity activities for disadvantaged people in the home country. At the same time, SVUK has been organizing various activities to connect its members such as an annual football tournament called SVUK Cup and art festival –SVUK Show.

Most recently, the organization has launched photo and video clip contests, which received warm response from Vietnamese students in the UK.

The congress has elected a six-member executive board for the 2013-2014 term led by Pham Ngoc Thu Thuy, chair of the Nottingham chapter.

Currently Vietnamese students in the UK number around 8,000.-VNA