Overseas Vietnamese in Argentina take a photo at the pre-Tet gathering (Photo: VNA)Buenos Aires (VNA) – Vietnamese expatriates in Argentina gathered at a meeting in Buenos Aires on January 23 to celebrate the Lunar New Year (Tet).
Extending best wishes to overseas Vietnamese, Ambassador to the country Nguyen Dinh Thao said the pre-Tet gathering was held on the occasion the 12th National Party Congress – a significant political and social event of Vietnam.
The diplomat highlighted the developing solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the two countries, saying numerous activities have been held across Argentina to mark the 85th founding anniversary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, 40 years of national reunification and the 70th National Day.
He added that two-way trade hit a record of 2.4 billion USD in 2015, 10 times that of 2005. Argentina is one of Vietnam’s key trade partners in Latin America.
The ambassador also spoke in length about the socio-economic situation in Vietnam, citing the gross domestic product (GDP) growth reached 6.68 percent in 2015, despite global economic downturns.
He noted that the Vietnamese community has made significant contributions to enhancing the bilateral friendship, illustrated by the establishment of the Asian Culture House by Pham Lien – an overseas Vietnamese.
The house has become a familiar destination for representatives of Argentinean agencies and member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Buenos Aires, he added.
On the occasion, Vietnamese expatriates were treated to traditional dishes and art performances.-VNA
