Sydney (VNA) – The Vietnamese Australian Scholars & Experts Association (VASEA) and the Vietnam - Australia Cultural Exchange Organisation (VACEO) are set to carry out numerous activities next year to help reinfo♚rce multifaceted ties between the two countries.

In his opening remarks at a year-end gathering held by the two organisations in Sydney on December 28, Vietnamese Consul General in the city Nguyen Thanh Tung appreciated contributions by VASEA and VACEO members as well as the Vietnamese community in Australia to the homeland and the two countries’ relations. He called on the two organisations to launch more initiatives, programmes, and activities in the time ahead to help preserve and popularise the Vietnamese culture, develop the community, and boost cultural exchanges along with cooperative ties between the two countries. VASEA President Prof. Nghiem Duc Long, who is working at the University of Technology Sydney, told the Vietnam News Agency that 2024 is a successful year for VASEA, which has held many meaningful activities to introduce and transfer scientific and technological advances and modern economic management models to Vietnam. Its efforts focus on such key areas as green economy, clean and sustainable energy, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, and semiconductor, which have initially brought about practical results, he elaborated, adding that VASEA has continuously received support from the diplomatic agencies and governments of both Australia and Vietnam. Long expressed his hope that 2025 will generate more opportunities for VASEA to serve the community and fulfil its mission of supporting the development of expertise and providing its members an ecosystem and chances necessary for contributing to the countries’ cooperation. Executive Director of VACEO Nguyen Thi Viet Ha said that tasked with upholding, developing, and sharing Vietnam’s traditional music and culture and fostering exchanges with multicultural communities in Australia, especially the native culture, VACEO has made remarkable contributions to bilateral ties this year. Notably, it successfully held the Vietsoul2 cultural event to introduce the Vietnamese culture to Australians, and worked with local artists and organisations to promote cross-cultural understanding. Next year, she went on, VACEO plans to expand programmes that will step up cultural exchanges, strengthen community engagement, and prepare for Vietsoul 3 with a focus on the dynamic culture of the South and Mekong Delta of Vietnam. It will start selecting artists within and outside the Vietnamese community soon to enhance mutual understanding between Vietnamese and Australian artists. Besides, the organisation will also cooperate more closely with other associations in the community to boost collaboration in preserving and popularising the traditional culture. At the event, VASEA and VACEO presented insignia and rewards to members with outstanding dedications to the countries’ relations and the promotion of Vietnam’s culture in Australia./.