Hanoi friendship exchange celebrates New Year festivals of Asian countries
This annual diplomatic event aims to strengthen people-to-people diplomacy, thus promoting socio-economic development and contributing to implementing successfully Hanoi’s goals and aspirations.
At the friendship exchange held in Hanoi on April 26 to celebrate the traditional New Year festivals of several Asian countries (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The Hano🐼i Union of Friendship Organisations (HAUFO), in collaboration with the embassies of Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, Myanmar, India, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka in Vietnam, organised a friendship exchange programme in Hanoi on April 26 to celebrate the traditional New Year festivals of several Asian countries in 2025.
This annual diplomatic event aims to strengthen people-to-people diplomacy, thus promoting socio-economic development and contributing to implementing successfully Hanoi’s goals and aspirations to become a “Capital of Culture, Civilisation and Modernity”, a “Heroic Capital”, a “City for Peace," and a "Creative City." It also seeks to elevate the role of people-to-people diplomacy in the capital city to a new height in the new era.
The event was attended by over 200 delegates, including representatives from embassies, international organisations, ministries and agencies, and the HAUFO’s member organisations.
HAUFO President Nguyen Ngoc Ky showed his delight at the flourishing relations between Vietnam and Asian countries.
He extended his wishes for a happy and prosperous new year to international friends, expressing his hope that peace and friendship activities organised by HAUFO will help strengthen mutual understanding and tighten solidarity between the people of Vietnam and Hanoi in particular, and those from countries around the world, including Asian nations.
The people of Vietnam and Hanoi deeply value the valuable support from international friends for Vietnam’s national construction and development efforts, and international integration, he said, noting that Hanoi always opens its doors for international friends, and serves as a common home of friendship.
Delegates joined in traditional rituals such as Buddha bathing ceremony, water splashing for good luck, wrist thread tying ceremony and Holi festival, and an art performance programme./.
The Mekong Delta province of An Giang’s Youth Union on April 11 held a gathering to mark the traditional New Year festivals of Cambodia (Chol Chnam Thmay) and Laos (Bunpimay).
The annual celebration demonstrated the friendship among the people of ASEAN member countries, thereby contributing to deepening mutual understanding between Vietnam and its neighbours, and enhancing cultural exchanges and multifaceted cooperation between the Vietnamese people, and those in HCM in particular and their Lao, Cambodian, Thai and Myanmar counterparts.
The Party and State of Vietnam always attach great importance to and give top priority to the development of Vietnam–China relations. Vietnam is ready to work with the Chinese Party and State to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Cooperative Partnership and promote the building of the Vietnam-China community with a shared future that carries strategic significance.
Under the leadership of President Ho Chi Minh and the CPV, President Cuong said, the press has been a steadfast force on the ideological and cultural front, rallying the masses to pursue national aspirations.
NA Chairman Tran Thanh Man stressed the need to accelerate the application of artificial intelligence and smart teaching equipment, innovate teaching and assessment methods, and further improve the quality of formal education.
He also pledged that the NA will promote its ongoing supervision, making sure that every promise must lead to results, and every commitment must bring about real changes.
Minister of Industry and Trade Nguyen Hong Dien welcomed the proposals put forward by the US side and reiterated Vietnam’s request for consideration of key areas of interest, including reciprocal tariff policies and access for Vietnamese key export products to the US market.
Deputy PM Le Thanh Long proposed countries promote shared values, including building trust, sincerity, and solidarity among nations and peoples; fostering cooperation spirit and responsible behaviour as well as upholding international law and the UN Charter; and placing people at the centre and as the goal, the key player, and the driving force of all policies.
The show, together with a grand parade to be held silmutaneously at Ba Dinh Square in Hanoi, will celebrate the 80th anniversary of the August Revolution, the National Day, and the General Staff of the Vietnam People’s Army (VPA).
In particular, in April 2023, the two sides successfully carried out a joint operation that dismantled a major organised, transnational drug trafficking ring involving both Vietnamese and Cambodian suspects.
The Vietnamese Embassy in Israel is closely coordinating with relevant local agencies to stay informed and provide the utmost support possible for Vietnamese nationals.
The launch of Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper in 1925, even before the founding of the Communist Party of Vietnam, is considered a testament to President Ho Chi Minh’s strategic foresight and strong belief in the guiding power of the revolutionary media.
New Zealand is currently one of Vietnam’s most important partners in the region, marked by a high level of political trust, strong and reliable defence and security cooperation, and increasingly open economic, trade, and investment ties.
Party General Secretary To Lam stressed that the Central Public Security Party Committee must be fully aware of the extremely important role of the People's Public Security force in the country's new revolutionary phase, so as to guide each branch and level of the force as the nation undergoes transformation.
Addressing concerns over university education spending, Son explained that as public universities gain greater autonomy, the Ministry of Finance has scaled back recurrent state funding. “Over the past decade, as autonomy has increased, the State's support has steadily declined”, he noted
Lao Minister of Foreign Affairs Thongsavanh Phomvihane affirmed that the presence of Vietnamese press offices in Laos vividly demonstrates the great friendship, special solidarity, and comprehensive cooperation between the two nations, as the press is not only a means of communication but also an important bridge for spreading consciousness about the history, values, and strategic depth of the Laos – Vietnam relationship to the people of both countries and the international community.
The country is willing to participate in collective efforts to promote cooperation and mobilise resources to advance the current priority issues of developing countries, such as trade, investment, infrastructure connectivity, making the most of scientific and technological advances for development, and people-to-people exchanges, Hang said.
During the negotiations, the US highly evaluated Vietnam’s goodwill and efforts, affirmed its appreciation for the bilateral relationship, acknowledged Vietnam’s proposals and concerns, and considered these an important basis for continuing discussions and moving towards a final agreement.
The Chairman stressed the need for stricter fiscal discipline, faster digital transformation, and more efficient management of State budget revenues and expenditures.
