Vietnam's Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung speaks at the event celebrating Tet 2017. (Source: VNA)Hanoi (VNA) – Vietnamese communities in many countries around the world have beguncelebrating the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2017.
In Vientiane,the capital city of Laos, the Vietnamese Embassy, the Association of Vietnameseand the Association of Vietnamese Enterprises in Laos, and the Association ofVietnamese in Vientiane jointly organised a Tet celebration on January 21.
Speaking at theceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung stressed that with thedetermination and joint efforts by both countries, the bilateral ties continuedto be strengthened in 2016, especially following Party General Secreaty NguyenPhu Trong’s visit to Laos in November during which the two sides issued the JointStatement and signed seven important cooperation documents.
The Vietnamesecommunity in Laos developed and integrated well into the host country’s societylast year, he said, appreciating their participation in movements supportingflood victims in central Vietnam and people in remote areas of Laos.
The ambassadorsaid 2017 is a significant year for both Vietnam and Laos as the two countrieswill celebrate the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations and 40th years since the signing of the Treaty on Cooperation and Friendship. He hopedVietnamese here to keep fostering the special relationship between the twonations.
On the occasion, the representative offices of the Vietnam News Agency, VietnamTelevision, Radio the Voice of Vietnam, Nhan dan Daily and Vietnam CultureCentre in Laos hosted a spring press festival showcasing Tet publicationsbrought from Vietnam.
On the same day,a similar event was held by Vietnam’s Embassy in Japan, providing anopportunity for Vietnamese expatriates to meet each other after one year ofhard work.
Vietnamese Ambassadorto Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong said that the Vietnam-Japan relationship has developedstrongly in many fields, contributing to peace and stability in the region.
The 185,000-strongVietnamese community in Japan has made positive contributions to the prosperityof the two countries, he noted.
Meanwhile,overseas Vietnamese in Australia also gathered in Canberra to celebrate thetraditional Lunar New Year festival on January 21
Vietnamese Ambassadorto Australia Luong Thanh Nghi said that the Vietnam-Australia relationshipdeveloped widely and deeply in 2016 with many meetings of senior leaders.
Nghi affirmedachievements Vietnam has achieved are the result of the great efforts of theParty, State and people as well as overseas Vietnamese, including those inAustralia.
The same day,Vietnam’s Consulate General in Sydney also held a gathering celebrating Tet forthe Vietnamese community in the city.-VNA
