In his remarks, Vietnamese Ambassador to South Africa Le Huy Hoang highlighted the historic meaning of the August Revolution and the National Day giving birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam (now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam) and opening a new era of independence, freedom and happiness for the nation.
He reviewed the outstanding socio-economic achievements and development milestones Vietnam has recorded over the past 71 years, including intensive international integration and encouragement of peaceful settlement of issues in line with international law, contributing actively to peace and development in the region and the world.
Regarding the Vietnam-South Africa relations, the ambassador affirmed that the Vietnamese Party and State treasure the development of comprehensive partnership with South Africa – a member of the group of major emerging economies (BRICS) and an important gateway of Africa. Vietnam wishes to boost effective co-operation with South Africa in various fields, particularly economics and trade, striving to bring two-way trade from US$1.2 billion at present to US$3 billion in the next two or three years, Hoang said.
On behalf of the South African government, Deputy Minister of Human Settlements Zou Kota-Fredericks gave positive assessments of the relations between the two countries and spoke highly of the significant achievements Vietnam has made during the past struggle for national liberation, as well as the current cause of national construction and development.
South Africa always values the time-honored friendly relations and co-operation with Vietnam which have been fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and President Nelson Mandela, Kota-Fredericks said, expressing his hope that the upcoming Vietnam visit by Vice President of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa would create a new momentum for the multifaceted co-operation between the two countries in the future.
At the ceremony, the Vietnamese Embassy also advertised Vietnam’s products of strength, including rice and coffee, as well as its traditional food to South African and international friends.
* On the same day, the Vietnamese embassy in Cambodia hosted a banquet on the occasion of the 71st anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day, during which Vietnamese Ambassador Thach Du reviewed Vietnam’s significant achievements and affirmed the country’s consistent foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, co-operation, development, multilateralisation and diversification of international relationships.
He thanked the Cambodian government for supporting Vietnam in searching and repatriation of the remains of Vietnamese voluntary soldiers to the country, while expressing his belief that the Vietnam-Cambodia fine neighbourliness, time-honoured friendship and comprehensive co-operation would be unceasingly strengthened for the benefit of their people, contributing actively to peace, stability and development in the region and around the world.
Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Royal Palace Kong Som Ol visited the headquarters of the Vietnamese embassy in Phnom Penh and extended National Day wishes to its officials.
* Banquets were also organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in Laos and the Consulate General of Vietnam in Osaka, Japan on September 1 to mark the 71st anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day.
