Indonesian Consul General to HCM City Hanif Salim speaks at the get-together to celebrate the 73rd anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence Day. (Photo: VNA)HCM City (VNA) – A get-together was held in HCM City on August 16 to mark the 73rd anniversary of Indonesia’s Independence Day (August 17, 1945-2018)
The event was co-organised by the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association’s HCM City chapter (VIFA HCM City).
Speaking at the function, Indonesian Consul General to HCM City Hanif Salim noted with pleasure the strong development of the bilateral ties in all fields, especially politics, diplomacy, economy, culture, education and people-to-people exchange.
He thanked HUFO for closely coordinating with the Indonesian Consul General in implementing cooperation activities, thus enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries’ people.
He expressed his wish to receive the union’s continued support to further step up collaboration and amity between the people of Indonesia and HCM City.
The diplomat also pledged to try his best to foster bilateral diplomatic ties as well as promote economic development in both nations, thus bringing practical benefits to their people.
VIFA HCM City President Le Ton Thanh said since Vietnam and Indonesia upgrade their ties to a strategic partnership in June 2013, the two countries have recorded numerous achievements, both intensively and extensively, through high-level visits and meetings, and the signing of cooperation agreements in the fields of politics, economy and culture.
The two sides have regularly promoted their collaboration at two important forums, namely the Committee on Scientific and Technological Cooperation and the Bilateral Cooperation Committee, he said.
Diplomatic activities and development cooperation have helped HCM City’s people understand more about the socio-economy and culture of Indonesia, he added.
Two-way trade between Vietnam and Indonesia hit 6.4 billion USD in 2017, up 20 percent against the previous year.
At present, the Indonesian Government is providing scholarships for Vietnamese citizens under three programmes sponsored by its Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Research, Technology and Higher Education, and Ministry of Education and Culture.-VNA
VNA
