Indonesia’s 77th Independence Day Celebrated in HCM City

Participants at the meeting in Ho Chi Minh City on August 16. Photo: HUFO

In his remarks, Vice President of the Vietnam-Indonesia Friendship Association’s HCM City chapter Nguyen Thanh Tuan highlighted achievements recorded by the Indonesian Government and people over the past time.

“Vietnam and Indonesia are Southeast Asian neighbours that share a racial and cultural affinity and a history of struggling for independence,” he said.

The bilateral multifaceted ties have been constantly reinforced and expanded, he noted, adding that the two countries have increased political closeness with high trust and more regular exchanges and meetings at all levels.

The cooperation has also seen progress in the fields of not only politics and diplomacy, but also trade, investment, national defence and security, agriculture, fisheries, energy, aviation, culture, education and tourism, Tuan continued.

He cited statistics showing that by the end of 2021, Indonesia ranked 31st out of 116 countries and territories investing in HCM City, running 56 FDI projects worth over $41 million. HCM City also remains the host of various economic, trade, cultural and educational activities between Vietnam and Indonesia.

Speaking at the meeting, Consul General of Indonesia in HCM City Agustaviano Sofjan said Vietnam and Indonesia have a time-tested relationship.

Consul General of Indonesia in HCM City Agustaviano Sofjan speaks at the meeting. Photo: HUFO

Since the establishment of their diplomatic ties in 1955, leaders and people of the two countries have nurtured and promoted their bilateral relationship in all spheres, and advanced it to a strategic partnership in 2013, he said.

Despite Covid-19, last year two-way trade reached $11.4 billion, topping the goal set by leaders of the two sides.

In 2021 and the first half of this year, the Consulate General coordinated with the HUFO to organise many events aiming to connect the two countries’ people, businesses and youths, open up orientations for bilateral economic ties, and contribute to the development of both nations as well as the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he said.

The diplomat pledged that the Consulate General of Indonesia will do its best to tighten bilateral relations through government-to-government, business-to-business, and people-to-people cooperation.

The Consulate General will also coordinate closely with HCM City to step up people-to-people exchanges through cultural and educational activities, contributing to enhancing the friendship and solidarity and bringing interests to people of the two countries, he said.

Winners of a contest on Indonesian culture. Photo: HUFO

On this occasion, winners of a contest on Indonesian culture, who are students of universities in HCM City, were awarded./.