Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem met with ambassadors and representatives of international organisations in Hanoi on Jan. 27.

The meeting was jointly held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the Hanoi Municipal People’s Committee.

Addressing the meeting, Khiem thanked the ambassadors, heads of diplomatic agencies and staff of international organisations who have actively supported Vietnam during its development cause, and expressed his hope to bolster friendship with the international community.

Khiem spoke highly of the country’s achievements, which have been assisted by solid support from worldwide governments and organisations in various fields including politics, economy, culture and education.

He also said the assistance has contributed to the success of the country’s major festive event, the 1000 th anniversary of Thang Long - Hanoi , as well to the UNESCO recognition of Vietnam ’s outstanding cultural heritages.

Khiem affirmed Vietnam ’s continual efforts in establishing comprehensive foreign policies to step up international integration and bilateral and multifaceted cooperation, as well as contributing to regional and world peace, stability and development.

At the meeting, Morocco Ambassador El Housine Fardani hailed Vietnam for being one of the economies with the highest growth rate in 2010, despite global financial crisis. He also congratulated Vietnam on its accomplishment of the ASEAN Chairmanship as well as its successful 11 th National Party Congress.

The same day, Ho Chi Minh City ’s authorities hosted a reception for consuls general, honourable consuls and leaders of foreign representative agencies, trade associations, international organisations and non-governmental organisations on the occasion of the Lunar New Year Festival.

The Consul General of Germany – head of the diplomatic corps in the city and the consuls general of Canada , the UK , Kuwait and Indonesia took the floor, praising the city’s achievements in 2010 despite facing a variety of challenges.

The diplomats pointed out the city’s weaknesses and shortcomings, especially its inner city traffic systems, crime, fraud and occasional bad behaviour of taxi drivers to foreigners.

They also showed their interest in HCM City ’s human resources development programmes, education, job placement and public-private partnerships.

Vice Chairman of the HCM City People’s Committee Nguyen Thanh Tai said in 2011, the city will focus efforts on dealing with six major issues – traffic congestion, floods, environmental pollution, high-quality human resources development, building a modern administration apparatus and speeding up economic restructuring.

HCM City will strive to post a GDP growth rate of 11.5 percent, reach total social investment of over 200 trillion VND and create stable jobs for more than 120,000 workers, Tai added.

On behalf the city’s leaders, Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Le Hoang Quan extended season’s greetings to leaders and staff of foreign representative agencies.

The mayor thanked the diplomatic corps and international organisations for their support and expressed his hope that the city would receive more assistance and cooperation./.