In Russia, the Consulate General of Vietnam in Ekaterinburg hosted a get-together in Ufa, the capital city of the Republic of Bashkortostan, during which Consul General Ngo Phuong Nghi said he was happy to celebrate the traditional New Year with Vietnamese people living here.
He briefed his guests on Vietnam’s outstanding political and economic achievements last year and lauded the strong development of the Vietnamese community in Ufa.
In Berlin, Germany, Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Minh Vu spoke highly of the bilateral relations between the two countries, saying that this year, the two sides will mark the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties and 10th years of the Strategic Partnership.
He hoped that Vietnam and Germany will together foster cooperation in various areas, from economy, politics, education, science-technology and security-defence to tourism and culture, and promote collaboration at multilateral forums.
He also appreciated the contributions made by the overseas Vietnamese to the homeland and the enthusiastic support for the Embassy of Vietnam in Germany in recent times.
The Embassy of Vietnam in South Africa marked the Lunar New Year festival in an event in Pretoria where Ambassador Vu Van Dung said he is confident that the Vietnamese community here will stay united and grow stronger and stronger in the future.
He also looked forward the Vietnamese here organising more practical activities to promote the image of Vietnam and bolster the Vietnam-South Africa relations.
A similar event was held by the Vietnamese Embassy in Beijing, China. Addressing the event, Ambassador Pham Sao Mai recognised efforts made by the Vietnamese people in China over recent years, saying he hopes they will always uphold patriotism and do their best to nurture the two countries’ friendship.
The Canada-Vietnam Society (CVS), which gathers Vietnamese expats living in Canada, held a get-together in Toronto on January 18 to celebrate Tet.
The event featured a feast of Vietnamese traditional dishes, such as “banh chung” (square sticky rice cake), “heo quay” (Vietnam’s crispy roast pork) and “che dau xanh” (sweet green bean soup), as well as folk music performances, including lion and “ao dai” (traditional gown) dances, helping relieve the expats’ homesick.
CVS Director Julie Nguyen said the celebration saw the presence of many international guests, particularly from ASEAN and Latin American countries, reflecting growing interest from foreign partners in Canada in cooperating with Vietnam in trade, investment and education.
Vietnam and Canada see greater opportunities for stronger trade and cultural exchanges, said Deputy Mayor of Toronto Denzil Minnan-Wong, adding this Vietnamese New Year event provides a chance not only for Vietnamese expats and businesses to meet but also for Toronto and Ho Chi Minh City to expand partnership.
On the occasion, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent a letter of greetings to the Vietnamese communities in Canada, saying the holiday offers a wonderful opportunity to recognise the tremendous contributions that Canadians of Vietnamese origin have made to the country. He wished the Vietnamese all over the world best luck and prosperity in the Year of Rat.
Last year, Vietnam remained Canada’s largest trade partner in Southeast Asia with two-way trade estimated at about US$5.98 billion. Canada is home to around 250,000 Vietnamese people.
