Hanoi (VNA) – The diplomatic missionsof Vietnam in Cambodia, South Africa and Hong Kong (China) hosted banquets onAugust 30 in celebration of the country’s 73rd National Day (September 2,1945).

The event in Phnom Penh saw the presence ofCambodian Deputy Prime Minister and Chairman of the Council for Agriculturaland Rural Development Yim Chhaily, Minister of Tourism Thong Khon, other seniorofficials, heads of other countries’ diplomatic agencies in Phnom Penh, andrepresentatives of Vietnamese people in Cambodia.

In his speech, Ambassador Vu Quang Minhhighlighted the major achievements Vietnam has attained since President Ho ChiMinh read the Declaration of Independence on September 2, 1945, heralding a newera for the country.

He affirmed Vietnam’s consistent foreign policyof independence, self-reliance, equal and mutually beneficial cooperation forcommon prosperity and sustainable development, multilateralisation anddiversification of external relations, and being a friend and a trustworthypartner of countries and also a responsible member of the internationalcommunity.

Vietnam and Cambodia are close neighbours withlong-standing solidarity and friendship nurtured by generations of the twocountries’ leaders and people, he said, noting that bilateral economic, tradeand investment ties have been developing rapidly, turning Vietnam into one ofthe leading partners of Cambodia.

On behalf of the Cambodian Government, TourismMinister Thong Khon thanked the Vietnamese Government and people for supportinghis country throughout history. 

He said the new Government of Cambodia willcontinue working closely with Vietnam to enhance their friendship and cooperationwithin bilateral and multilateral frameworks for the sake of the two peoplesand the countries’ peace, stability and prosperity.

Also on August 30, Deputy Prime Minister andMinister of the Royal Palace Samdech Kong Sam Ol came to the Vietnamese Embassyto deliver King Norodom Sihamoni’s letter of greetings on Vietnam’s NationalDay to Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang. He also sent congratulationsflowers of the King and Queen Mother Norodom Monineath Sihanouk tothe embassy.

Meanwhile, a banquet was held by the VietnameseEmbassy in South Africa to mark the National Day as well as the 25thanniversary of the countries’ diplomatic ties.


Ambassador Vu Van Dung said Vietnam and SouthAfrica have had sound relations for many years. Vietnam always attachesimportance to developing traditional ties with South Africa in differentfields. Bilateral trade has surged from 21.5 million USD in 1997 to 1 billionUSD in 2017.

Sindi Mququ, Director of the Central Asia –South Asia – Southeast Asia division at the South African Foreign Ministry’sgeneral department for Asia – Middle East, congratulated the VietnameseGovernment and people on the 73rd National Day.

She said sound relations between the twocountries are the solid foundation for their cooperation to be strengthened anddiversified.

Vietnam’s investment in and exports to SouthAfrica are higher than her country’s corresponding activities in Vietnam, theofficial noted, asking the Southeast Asian nation to share these experienceswith her country, especially on the occasion of Vietnam-South Africapartnership forum slated for this September.

Sindi Mququ said the South African Governmentwants to increase bilateral trade with Vietnam and considers this a pillar inthe bilateral partnership.

The banquet in Hong Kong (China) hosted by theConsulate General of Vietnam in Hong Kong and Macau was attended by Secretaryfor Justice Teresa Cheng and Secretary for Security John K.C. Lee of Hong Kong,and Deputy Commissioner of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Song Ru’an.

Consul General Tran Thanh Huan said theVietnam-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership has continued todevelop in multiple spheres. In this trend, Vietnam’s relations with thespecial administrative regions of Hong Kong and Macau have also grown fast andstably.

Hong Kong is a major trade and investmentpartner of Vietnam. As of July 2018, it had invested in 1,312 projects worth18.3 billion USD in Vietnam, ranking sixth among foreign investors here.

The Southeast Asian nation is also becoming anattractive destination for Hong Kong tourists. In 2017, more than 47,700vacationers from this special administrative region visited Vietnam, up 37.9percent from the previous year, Huan added.

Teresa Cheng congratulated Vietnam on its accomplishments,noting that the country remained the 10th largest trade partner of Hong Kong in2017.

She expressed her belief that with existingpotential and advantages, the country’s win-win cooperation in culture andeducation with Hong Kong and Macau will further increase, thus contributing tothe friendly neighbourliness and comprehensive strategic cooperativepartnership between Vietnam and China.-VNA