VNHNO - The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations and the municipal Vietnam-Southeast Asia Friendship Association held a get-together on August 23 on the occasion of the 51st founding anniversary of ASEAN (August 8).
Speaking at the event, Singaporean Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City Leow Siu Lin said the event not only reviews achievements that ASEAN has made over the past more than five decades but also looks toward the next period in a path to peace, stability, growth and dynamism in the region.
Representatives from the ASEAN countries’ Consulate Generals in HCM City presented 30 scholarships to local disadvantaged students with outstanding academic performance at the get-together on August 23 to celebrate the 51st founding anniversary of ASEAN. Photo: Voh.com.vn
As rotating Chair of ASEAN, Singapore focuses on the themes of “Resilience” and “Innovation” to shape a united ASEAN which is able to effectively address geo-political instabilities and brace for opportunities and challenges in the digital revolution, including establishing the network of smart cities, including Hanoi, Da Nang and Ho Chi Minh City, toward the common goal of sustainable urban development to improve urban environment and business opportunities for nearly 630 million people in the bloc, she said.
Phan Thi Hong Xuan, Chairwoman of the municipal Vietnam-Southeast Asia Friendship Association, said the past achievements proved that ASEAN has become important and indispensable to peace, stability and development in Southeast Asia, a driving force for dialogue, cooperation and connectivity among member states as well as comprehensive development in East Asia and Asia-Pacific.
She said the get-together is one of the people-to-people diplomatic activities, contributing to tightening solidarity in the grouping.
On the occasion, representatives from the ASEAN countries’ Consulate Generals in Ho Chi Minh City presented 30 scholarships to local disadvantaged students with outstanding academic performance.
* Nearly 100 athletes from embassies of ASEAN member states in Cambodia recently took part in the Bowling ASEAN sport exchange in Phnom Penh.
Speaking at the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to Cambodia Vu Quang Minh stated it is a meaningful activity to celebrate ASEAN’s 51th founding anniversary and Cambodia’s 20 years of ASEAN membership.
He said the sporting event connects participants and consolidates solidarity within the bloc.
The exchange was an opportunity for ASEAN diplomats to gather and learn from one another to boost mutual understanding and collaboration./.
