Berlin (VNA) – Over 500 businesses and traders gathered at the Dong Xuan Trade Centere in Berlin’s Lichtenberg district on January 1 to celebrate the New Year.

The annual event provided an opportunity to reflect on a challenging year and acknowledge collective efforts toward significant achievements.

At the event, Nguyen Van Hien, General Director of the Dong Xuan Trade Centre, highlighted the centre’s milestones and the contributions of businesses and partners of the centre.

Hien emphasised the centre's role as a crucial link facilitating trade between Vietnamese enterprises and their German counterparts, while encouraging businesses to enter 2025 with confidence and solidarity, aiming for greater success and collaboration.

On behalf of the Vietnamese Embassy in Germany, Minister Counsellor Chu Tuan Duc praised the resilience and growth of Vietnamese businesses in the past year despite numerous challenges.

He expressed his confidence in their continued success under the leadership of Nguyen Van Hien and described the centre not only as an economic hub but also as a venue of meetings and cultural activities for the Vietnamese community in Germany, calling it the heart of the Vietnamese community in Germany.

The event also celebrated the centre’s contributions to humanitarian efforts, including support for disaster-stricken communities in Vietnam and other regions. The Vietnamese community in Germany was recognised for its solidarity and contributions to their home country.

In the coming time, 2025 marks the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between the two countries.

According to Duc, this milestone presents opportunities to strengthen bilateral ties and showcase the Vietnamese community's role and influence in Germany.

On the occasion, the embassy presented certificates of merit to individuals and businesses for their outstanding contributions🃏 to the communi🔥ty in 2024./.