Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Nguyen Ba Hung speaks at the ceremony in Vientiane on August 30 (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNA) – Ceremonies have beenheld by diplomatic agencies of Vietnam in many countries around the world tocelebrate the 74th National Day (September 2).

The Vietnamese Embassy in Laos organised acelebration in Vientiane on August 30 which saw the presence of KhamphanhPhommathat, Politburo member, Secretary of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party(LPRP) Central Committee, and Chief of the LPRP Central Committee’s Office;Sonexay Siphandone, Politburo member and Deputy Prime Minister of Laos; andKikeo Khaykham Phithoune, Secretary of the LPRP Central Committee and head ofthe LPRP Central Committee’s Commission for Communication and Education.

The event was also attended by many other Lao officials,foreign diplomats and representatives of international organisations in thecountry.

In his speech, Vietnamese Ambassador to LaosNguyen Ba Hung said since the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the SocialistRepublic of Vietnam, was founded on September 2, 1945, the Vietnamese peoplehave succeeded in gaining national independence, freedom and reunification, aswell as in national development and defence.

He reiterated Vietnam’s consistent policy oftreasuring its relations with Laos and considering the neighbouring country asthe “closet and most faithful brother, comrade and friend”.

Vietnam is very delighted and proud that thespecial bilateral friendship and solidarity and comprehensive cooperation havecontinually been developing, Hung noted.

Earlier, Lao Minister of Planning and Investmentand Chairman of the Laos-Vietnam Cooperation Committee Souphanh Keomixay;Deputy Foreign Minister Khamphao Onthavanh; deputy head of the LPRP CentralCommittee’s External Relations Commission Somphon Sichaleun, and Secretary ofthe Lao People’s Revolutionary Youth Union Central Committee AlounxaySounnalath came to the Vietnamese Embassy to offer congratulations.

Also on August 30, a similar ceremony took placein Tokyo, attracting Secretary General of Japan’s ruling Liberal DemocraticParty (LDP) and Chairman of the Japan-Vietnam Friendship Parliamentary AllianceToshihiro Nikai; Minister of Justice Takashi Yamashita; Minister in charge ofregional revitalisation Katayama Satsuki; Chairman of the National Public SafetyCommission Junzo Yamamoto; leader of the Komeito Party Natsuo Yamaguchi; andDeputy Foreign Minister Toshiko Abe.

Participants in the ceremony in Tokyo on August 30 toast the 74th National Day of Vietnam (Photo: VNA)

At the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan VuHong Nam reviewed the remarkable achievements Vietnam has obtained over thelast 74 years. 

Nam also expressed his delight at the progressof the two countries’ connections with their diplomatic relationship marking 45years in 2018, adding that he hopes bilateral ties will keep flourishing in theReiwa era of Japan.

At a banquet held in New Delhi the same day,Vietnamese Ambassador to India Pham Sanh Chau highlighted growing relations betweenVietnam and India in politics, diplomacy, defence-security, trade-investment,science-technology, culture, education and people-to-people exchange. 

He added direct air routes between the two nationsthat are set to be opened from now to the end of this year will create adriving force for bilateral partnerships in tourism, trade, investment andpeople-to-people ties.

At the event that drew more than 300 guests,Indian Minister of State for Home Affairs G. Kishan Reddy said Vietnam is animportant partner in his country’s Act East Policy, believing that the bilateralties will develop even more strongly in the time to come.

At the ceremony held in Ekaterinburg city ofRussia’s Sverdlovsk Oblast the same day, Vietnamese Consul General in the cityNgo Phuong Nghi said over the last 74 years, Russia has always been a close andtrustworthy friend of Vietnam, which in turn never forgets the enormous andeffective support that the Russian people and experts have given to itsstruggle for national defence and development.

Aleksander Harlov (L), representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry in Sverdlovsk, addresses the celebration in Ekaterinburg city on August 30

Congratulating Vietnam on the 74th National Day,Aleksander Harlov, representative of the Russian Foreign Ministry inSverdlovsk, affirmed that Vietnam has become a reliable friend of Russia inSoutheast Asia. He believed the two countries’ cooperation will develop more practicallyand effectively in the future.

Meanwhile, a celebration of Vietnam’s 74thNational Day took place in San Francisco, the US, on August 30. It was attendedby officials from the US Department of State’s office in California and localauthorities, foreign diplomats, and representatives of the San Francisco-Ho ChiMinh City Sister City Committee.

Vietnamese Consul General in San FranciscoNguyen Trac Toan affirmed the country’s wish to further enhance itscomprehensive partnership with the US.

He voiced his belief that with the cooperation of authoritiesand relevant sides in the US’s western coast, bilateral relations will thrivefurther for the sake of the Vietnamese and US people and for peace, stability,cooperation and development in the region and the world.

On August 28, a ceremony to mark the 74thNational Day was also organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Brazil, attractingnearly 300 guests, including senior officials and entrepreneurs of Brazil,representatives of diplomatic corps and Vietnamese people in the South Americannation.-VNA