The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (HUFO) celebrated the 27th anniversary of Vietnam’s participation in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (July 28) and the bloc’s 55th founding anniversary (August 8), according to VNA.
According to Phan Thi Hong Xuan, president of the Vietnam-Southeast Asia Friendship Association in HCM City, the past 27 years since Vietnam joined ASEAN are not a long period of time in comparison to the country’s history, but they are very meaningful for Vietnam and ASEAN as well during the construction of an ASEAN Community Vision by 2025.
Xuan stated that, while many difficulties and challenges remain, the ASEAN Community has reaffirmed its role as an important and indispensable factor for peace, stability, and development in Southeast Asia, as well as a driving force for dialogue, cooperation, and connectivity among member countries, as well as the expansion of cooperation and comprehensive development in East Asia and Asia-Pacific.
Cambodian Consul General in the city Sok Dareth offered a congratulatory speech on ASEAN’s 55th establishment anniversary and recounted the bloc’s achievements in 2022, when his nation will be the ASEAN Chair.
Dareth stated that since joining ASEAN, Vietnam has demonstrated itself to be an active and responsible member of both the organization and the world community.
Vietnam has promoted intensive and extensive integration in politics, economy, diplomacy, and all other areas of life, and has collaborated with other ASEAN member countries in building the ASEAN community from security to politics, economy, culture, and society, with the top priority being ASEAN connectivity, he added.
The winners of the contest “Smart city in the era of industrial revolution 4.0 and its impacts on the lives of urban people in Ho Chi Minh City” were announced during the event.
The contest was co-hosted by the Vietnam-Southeast Asia Friendship Association, the Vietnam National University’s Centre for ASEAN Human Resources Research and Training, and Singapore’s Lee Kuan Yew Centre for Innovative Cities.
