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 begun celebrating the Lunar New Year (Tet) 2017.
In Vientiane, the capital city of Laos, the Vietnamese Embassy, the Association of Vietnamese and the Association of Vietnamese Enterprises in Laos, and the Association of Vietnamese in Vientiane jointly organised a Tet celebration on January 21.
Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung stressed that with the determination and joint efforts by both countries, the bilateral ties continued to be strengthened in 2016, especially following Party General Secreaty Nguyen Phu Trong’s visit to Laos in November during which the two sides issued the Joint Statement and signed seven important cooperation documents.
The Vietnamese community in Laos developed and integrated well into the host country’s society last year, he said, appreciating their participation in movements supporting flood victims in central Vietnam and people in remote areas of Laos.
The ambassador said 2017 is a significant year for both Vietnam and Laos as the two countries will celebrate the 55th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations and 40th years since the signing of the Treaty on Cooperation and Friendship. He hoped Vietnamese here to keep fostering the special relationship between the two nations.
On the occasion, the representative offices of the Vietnam News Agency, Vietnam Television, Radio the Voice of Vietnam, Nhan dan Daily and Vietnam Culture Centre in Laos hosted a spring press festival showcasing Tet publications brought from Vietnam.
On the same day, a similar event was held by Vietnam’s Embassy in Japan, providing an opportunity for Vietnamese expatriates to meet each other after one year of hard work.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan Nguyen Quoc Cuong said that the Vietnam-Japan relationship has developed strongly in many fields, contributing to peace and stability in the region.
The 185,000-strong Vietnamese community in Japan has made positive contributions to the prosperity of the two countries, he noted.
Meanwhile, overseas Vietnamese in Australia also gathered in Canberra to celebrate the traditional Lunar New Year festival on January 21
Vietnamese Ambassador to Australia Luong Thanh Nghi said that the Vietnam-Australia relationship developed widely and deeply in 2016 with many meetings of senior leaders.
Nghi affirmed achievements Vietnam has achieved are the result of the great efforts of the Party, State and people as well as overseas Vietnamese, including those in Australia.
The same day, Vietnam’s Consulate General in Sydney also held a gathering celebrating Tet for the Vietnamese community in the city.-VNA
