The Vietnamese Association in Laos held a meeting to celebrate the 2012 Lunar New Year festival (Tet) in Vientiane on January 15.  
The Association’s Chairman Nguyen Duy Trung reviewed major achievements recorded by the Vietnamese residents, which have been highly praised by the Lao Party and State.

He said the association is determined to build a strong and united community to promote the special relationship between Vietnam and Laos.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos Ta Minh Chau spoke of the Vietnamese community’s active contributions to Vietnam’s growth last year.

The same day, the Vietnamese Embassy in the Republic of Korea (RoK) and the Vietnamese Association in the country held a get together for Overseas Vietnamese to welcome the Lunar New Year festival.

At the meeting Vietnamese Ambassador to the RoK Tran Trong Toan confirmed that the Party and State always consider the Overseas Vietnamese as an inseparable part of the Vietnamese nation. He stressed the success of the official visit made by State President Truong Tan Sang to the RoK and the development in the strategic partnership between the two countries in the fields of trade, investment, culture and education as well as preparations for the celebration of the 20 anniversary of Vietnam-RoK diplomatic relations.

Earlier on January 14, nearly 500 people gathered at the Vietnamese Embassy in Ottawa, Canada to celebrate the Tet.

Vietnamese Ambassador to Canada Le Sy Vuong Ha hailed the Vietnamese people’s efforts to maintain the economic growth rate of nearly 5.8 percent in 2011.

He spoke highly of the active contributions made by Vietnamese residents in Canada to help disadvantaged people back home.

Also on January 14, the Vietnamese Embassy in Argentina organized a meeting with representatives of the Vietnamese community.

Vietnamese Charge’d Affair Truong Van Xim briefed them on the country’s effective measures to control inflation, stabilize macroeconomy, promote production and ensure social security in the past year. He noted that the two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and Argentina hit US$1 billion in 2011.

VOV