The National Day of Vietnam (Sept. 2) was celebrated imposingly at Vietnamese embassies abroad on Sept. 1 and 2.

The UN General Secretary Ban Ki-moon congratulated Vietnam on the day and earlier, US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton extended congratulation to Vietnam on the occasion.

On Sept. 1, the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing held a solemn ceremony to celebrate the 66 th anniversary of the country’s National Day. Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister Liu Zhenmin attended the event.

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Nguyen Van Tho highlighted the Vietnamese people’s achievements over the past 66 years under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, especially after 25 years of renewal.

On the Vietnam-China relationship, the ambassador highlighted the traditional friendship. For many years, friendship and cooperation between the two countries saw important landmarks, bringing practical benefits to the two people.

Leaders of the two countries agreed to gradually solve outstanding problems through peaceful negotiations in the spirit of friendly neighbours and comrades, respecting mutual benefits on the basis of international law and ensuring the general situation of friendship between the two countries.

On this occasion, Ambassador Tho, on behalf of the Vietnamese Party, Government and people, thanked the Chinese Party, Government and people for their glorious assistance to Vietnam in the past struggle for national liberation and unification and during the present modernisation process.

The same day, the Vietnamese Embassy in Vientiane hosted a reception with the participation of Lao Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Thongloun Sisoulith, Education and Sports Minister and President of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship Association Phankham Viphavan.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Ta Minh Chau affirmed that besides the fine political relations, economic, trade and investment cooperation had also constantly developed. Close relations in security and national defence contributed to maintaining political stability and security in each country and coordination in external affairs also helped raise the position of each country in the international arena.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Cambodia on Sept. 1 also held a reception to mark the country’s National Day.

Cambodian President of National Assembly Heng Somrin, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Hor Namhong attended the reception.

Deputy PM Hor Namhong congratulated Vietnam on its achievements over the past 66 years and expressed his belief that the country would continue to obtain more successes in national construction and defence. He affirmed that the Cambodian government and people will try their best to boost the traditional friendship, solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries.

In Moscow, the Vietnamese Embassy held a reception, attended by Ivan Melnikov, Vice Chairman of the State Duma and Vice-Chair of the Communist Party of Russian Federation, and Mikhail Bordanov, Deputy Foreign Minister and Vladimir Buiyanov President of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Pham Xuan Son confirmed the traditional relations and strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia and affirmed Vietnam ’s determination to constantly strengthen relations between the two countries.

In London , on Sept. 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.
Ban Ki-moon 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.”

He said: “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.”

In Tokyo , a ceremony was held with former Japanese Prime Minister Yasuo Fukuda, Chairman of the Policy Research Committee of the Democratic Party of Japan Seiji Maehara and Acting President of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary Alliance Tsutomu Takebe in attendance.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Phu Binh said that Vietnam-Japan relations had been developing well and the two countries had become important strategic partners. He thanked the Japanese government and people for their assistance to Vietnam in national construction.

On behalf of the Japanese guests, Seiji Maehara expressed his thanks to Vietnam for assistance to Japan to overcome the aftermath of the twin disasters and expressed his belief that the strategic partnership relations between Vietnam and Japan would continue to develop firmly.

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.

In New Delhi , India , 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./.