Ambassador Tho reviewed the Vietnam-China Friendship Year 2010 as the two countries celebrated the 60 th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. He highlighted Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to China, Chinese Prime Minister Wen Jiabao’s visit to Vietnam and the Friendship Youth Festival in China’s Guangxi province during last year, as well as the figure of 30 billion USD in bilateral trade.
Regarding Vietnam’s socio-economic situation, the diplomat said Vietnam was amongst countries that have made early recovery from the global economic crisis with GDP growth of 6.8 percent last year.
The ambassador also briefed the press on the outcome of the 11 th National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) and answered Chinese reporters’ questions on Vietnam’s external policies, the ASEAN-China relationship and other issues.
The same day, the Vientianed-based Overseas Vietnamese (OVs) Association held a reception in Laos to welcome Tet.
Several government leaders of Laos joined the overseas Vietnamese at the celebration, including Deputy Prime Minister Somsavad Lengsavath, Minister of Planning and Investment Sinlavong Khoutphaythoune and Minister of Industry and Trade Nam Vinhaketh.
Deputy Prime Minister Somsavad Lengsavath extended his congratulations for Tet to the Vietnamese people community and thanked them for contributing to the Lao construction.
The Vietnamese embassy in Indonesia also held a reception for the staff of the embassy, representative offices and OVs on Jan. 26./.
