In his speech to the gathering, Ambassador Pham Quang Vinh thankedthem for humanitarian deeds and voices to safeguard national sea andisland sovereignty over the past year, adding that the embassy laid downcommunity work as its top agenda for the coming time.
He also briefed them of progresses in various fields at home, with theeconomy growing higher than expected for the first time, by 5.98percent versus the targeted 5.8 percent.
Sizing upthe status of the Vietnam – US trade, Vinh said it soared 70 times tomore than 35 billion USD in 2014 against two decades ago.
Over 16,500 Vietnamese students are pursuing studies in the US, thehighest number among Southeast Asia countries and the eighth globally.
Both countries take steadfast position on concludingthe Trans-Pacific Partnership negotiations expeditiously, thus openingthe door to more opportunities in trade and other fields, he said.
In 2015, Vietnam and the US will co-host a series of activitiescelebrating the 20 th anniversary of diplomatic ties, including the“Vietnam Days in the US” in Washington.
The sameday, a number of Vietnamese, including students, gathered in a similarfunction in the Vietnamese Embassy in Ankara, capital of Turkey.
Ambassador Nguyen The Cuong extended them the best greetings and hopedthat they will stay united and contribute more to the homeland.
He also vowed to protect legitimate rights and interests of every Vietnamese national in Turkey.-VNA