The Vietnamese Embassy in India held a get-together to welcome the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) festival on Feb. 7 with the attendance of the Vietnamese community, diplomats and international friends.

Vietnamese Ambassador Vu Quang Diem highlighted socio-economic achievements that the country has made despite the adverse impacts of the global financial and economic crisis.

The ambassador expressed his belief that the Vietnam-India strategic partnership will further develop.

In the context of the world’s economic crisis, bilateral trade value between the two countries reached more than 2 billion USD last year.

Vietnam’s exports to India increased by 9 percent, while imports reduced by 17 percent compared to 2008.

The ambassador also wished the Vietnamese community in India good health and success on the occasion of the new year and make more contribution to strengthening Vietnam-India traditional friendship.

At a Tet meeting hosted by the Vietnamese Embassy in South Africa on Feb. 8, Ambassador Nguyen Manh Hung affirmed that the Vietnam-South Africa relations have seen developments in economy, trade, and culture, with the successful organisation of the Vietnam Cultural Week in South Africa for the first time.

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year, Vietnamese community in Indonesia, diplomats, officials and students also met on Feb. 7./.