Activities worldwide to celebrate National Day; PM attends the opening of a new school in Kien Giang; Vietnam, Laos strengthen educational cooperation; PM hosts National Day banquet for diplomats

The Vietnamese Consulate General in San Francisco, US, on September 2, held a ceremony to hoist the National flag at the city hall in the presence of local officials, including Charlotte Mailliard, head of San Francisco’s protocol department.

Vietnam’s red flag with its golden star was jointly raised by Ms Mailliard and Le Quoc Hung, who is the Vietnamese Consul General to the US city.

Mr Hung said that the event was of great significance because the Vietnam national flag was raised at the centre of San Francisco, a major city where there are more than 700,000 Vietnamese residents.

On this occasion, the San Francisco Government handed over a document signed by its mayor, which recognizes September 2 as Vietnamese Heritage Day in San Francisco.

** On the same day, the Vietnamese embassy in Russia received guests who came to celebrate Vietnam’s National Day.

The guests included Russian Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Denikov and two vice presidents of the State Duma.

Mr Denikov praised the longstanding ties of friendship between Vietnam and Russia and expressed his belief that the strategic partnership between the two countries will continue to develop.

Meanwhile, the Vietnamese ambassador to the Belgian Kingdom, Nguyen Manh Hung, who is also head of the Vietnamese mission to the European Union, organized a banquet to mark National Day, attracting nearly 600 officials, including the Belgian Ministers of the Interior, Education, and Traffic, leaders of the Belgian political parties, and senior officials from the European Parliament and European Commission.

On the evening of September 2, the Vietnamese embassy in France held a ceremony to mark National Day with the participation of representatives from the Association of Vietnamese in France and the Franco-Vietnamese Friendship Association.

** On September 2, the permanent Vietnamese mission to ASEAN, headquartered in Jakarta, Indonesia, hosted a reception for the ambassadors of ASEAN countries and ASEAN dialogue partners.

President visits Van Duc pagoda

On September 2, President Nguyen Minh Triet visited Van Duc pagoda in HCM City along with the Most Venerable Thich Chi Tinh, Chairman of the Vietnam Buddhist Shangha to celebrate the Vu Lan Festival and the country’s National Day.

The visit was just one of activities expressing the State leader’s humanity and respect for Buddhism during the Vu Lan Festival which falls on the seventh full moon of the lunar calendar and is a time for children to pay respect to their parents .

After offering incense at the ceremony, Mr Triet talked with the Most Venerable Thich Chi Tinh to brief him on the current socio-economic development situation in Vietnam.

On behalf of the Party and Government, the State leader wished Venerable leader good health and a long life so he can continue to contribute to the country’s development.

The religious head extended his thanks to Mr Triet and said he believed that the Party and Government will always stand firm and bring about a better standards of living for the people.

PM attends the opening of a new school in Kien Giang

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung attended the opening of the Nam Thai Son Secondary School in the southern province of Kien Giang on September 3.

The construction started on May 19, 2009 and was finished before the beginning of the new school year. Covering a site of 3.7ha, the new school includes a library, a multi-functional building, and equipment worth nearly VND20 billion. The school was built with the sponsorship money from the Thien Tam Fund.

It can accommodate 700 pupils a year.

Vietnam’s National Day celebrated overseas

Vietnamese embassies around the world, including Germany, Cuba and Indonesia, held celebrations to mark the 64th anniversary of the August Revolution and Vietnam’s National Day (September 2).

Addressing a party held at the Vietnamese embassy in Berlin on September 2, Ambassador Do Hoa Binh said that the Vietnamese officials, students and workers who are living and studying in Germany are all committed to improving solidarity within the overseas Vietnamese community, and actively integrating into local society so that they can continue to contribute to national construction at home.

The reception was attended by the Vice Chairman of the Germany-Vietnam Association, Prof. Wilfried Lulei, and author Hellmut Kapfenberger whose book entitled “Ho Chi Minh” was recently published in Germany on the 119th anniversary of Uncle Ho’s birthday. Also present were representatives of the Vietnam business association, groups of graduates and the overseas Vietnamese community in Berlin.

On the occasion, Counsellor Phan Y Nhi called for a response to the campaign to study, and follow the late President Ho Chi Minh’s moral example. He also asked to speed up the introduction of Vietnamese literature and cultural products in Germany and to collect documents and items related to Uncle Ho which are held by German friends.

Prof. Lulei praised the significance of Vietnam’s August Revolution and National Day, saying that he hoped the friendship and solidarity between the Vietnamese and German people would develop further in the future.

Earlier on September 1, the Vietnamese embassy in Indonesia gave a reception in celebration of National Day. Joining the reception were representatives of Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to ASEAN, Vietnamese experts and specialists at the Jakarta-based ASEAN Secretariat and representatives of the Vietnamese community plus students studying in Indonesia.

A delegation from the Lao embassy in Indonesia, led by Ambassador Prasith Sayasith and his wife, visited the Vietnamese Embassy on August 31st to celebrate National Day.

In Cuba, the Vietnamese Embassy and the Cuban Association of Friendship between Peoples (ICAP) jointly organised a “Vietnam today” photography exhibition at the Revolutionary Museum in the capital, Havana.

Over 40 photos displayed portray the struggle for national construction and capture the sense of optimism and creativity of the Vietnamese people, said Ambassador Vu Chi Cong. They also reflect the solidarity and friendship between Vietnam and Cuba.

National Day celebrated nationwide

A grand meeting was held on September 1 in central Binh Dinh province to mark the 64th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day and 40 years of implementing President Ho Chi Minh’s testament and the 100th anniversary of his visit to the province.

At the meeting, Binh Dinh’s Party organisation, administration and people reviewed the glorious tradition of the August Revolution and National Day (September 2) and results obtained after 40 years of implementing President Ho Chi Minh’s testament.

On the occasion, the Binh Dinh provincial Party Organisation’s Committee for Propaganda and Education awarded prizes for entries at the literature & arts and press contest entitled ”Studying and following Ho Chi Minh President’s moral example”.

*** The municipal Hanoi authorities have asked functional agencies to intensify propaganda activities and to mobilise 20 arts troupes to give performances to mark Independence Day.

The Hanoi Cinematography and Video Material Company also presented films to serve people in Hanoi’s outlying districts and disadvantaged areas.

*** In Gia Lai, hundreds of Vietnamese and foreign visitors burnt incense and laid wreaths at the Ho Chi Minh Museum.

To mark these events, 132 photos and documents on HCM’s testament written in 1965,1968 and 1969 were displayed at an exhibition entitled ”40 years of implementing President Ho Chi Minh’s testament”. The exhibition also gave a brief introduction of the outstanding achievements the country has made after 40 years of implementing his testament and 20 years of carrying out the Doi Moi (Renewal) process.

*** In Khanh Hoa, the provincial Police Department has launched a role model movement to mark 40 years of implementing Ho Chi Minh’s testament.

Through the movement, 5 collective and 9 individuals received certificates of merit from the Prime Minster and the Ministry of Public Security in recognition of their contributions to developing the police.

Meanwhile, in Hoa Binh, the provincial Steering Board of the literature & arts and press contest entitled ”Studying and following Ho Chi Minh President’s moral example” also presented prizes to 24 award winning entries from 32 authors.

Vietnam, Laos strengthen educational cooperation

Vietnam pledges to help Laos in training university and college teachers, said Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education and Training Nguyen Thien Nhan.

At a meeting with Lao Prime Minister Buasone Bouphavanh in Vientiane on September 1, Deputy PM Nhan, who is leading a Vietnamese delegation to visit Laos, said the visit aims to strengthen cooperation between the two countries’ educational sectors, especially in improving the quality of training for Lao students in Vietnam .

He also repeated Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh’s instruction, which urges the Vietnamese Ministry of Education and Training (MoIT) to join with its Lao counterpart to make the best use of the Laos-Vietnam Friendship High School in Vientiane .

At the reception, PM Bouphavanh thanked the Vietnamese Party, State and people for their assistance to Laos over the past years. All Lao students, after graduation in Vietnam , have fulfilled their tasks, he said, adding that many of them now hold key positions in the state apparatus.

The Lao PM affirmed that the Laos-Vietnam Friendship High School , a gift from Party General Secretary Nong Duc Manh, will help train excellent students for the capital city, thus creating high-quality human resources for Laos in the future.

He highly esteemed Vietnam’s great support for Laos in preparation for the upcoming 25th Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games 25), especially Hoang Anh Gia Lai’s sponsorship for the “SEA Games 25 Athletes’ Village” project.

The Vietnamese delegation will attend the inauguration ceremonies for the Laos-Vietnam Friendship High School and the SEA Games 25 Athletes’ Village.

PM hosts National Day banquet for diplomats

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung hosted a banquet on September 1 at the National Convention Centre in honour of the diplomatic corps in Hanoi to celebrate the 64th anniversary of Vietnam’s National Day (September 2).

Deputy PMs Nguyen Sinh Hung, Pham Gia Khiem and Hoang Trung Hai, ministers, leaders of centrally-run agencies in Hanoi , and a large number of foreign ambassadors, charges d’affaires and head representatives from international organisations attended the event.

Speaking at the function, PM Dung said that in the past 64 years, the Vietnamese people have bravely and persistently overcome numerous difficulties and hardships to secure and maintain national independence and reunification, and to build a rich and developing country.

Renewal achievements have proved that Vietnam is not only a nation with a glorious history and a thousand-year-old civilisation, but it is also a dynamic country, which boasts great potential for development as well as international integration and is steadily keeping pace with the era, he said.
The PM stated that over the past year, like many other countries worldwide, Vietnam has been facing the adverse and multidimensional effects of the global economic crisis.

The government and people of Vietnam have spared no effort to implement solutions and policies, and have successfully stabilised the macro-economy, curbed inflation and ensured social security.

Vietnam ’s economy has maintained its growth, reaching 6.2 percent in 2008 and is forecast to achieve a growth rate of between 5-5.2 percent in 2009 and around 6.5 percent in 2010, PM Dung said.

The government leader noted that Vietnam ’s relations with all countries and the international community have improved and Vietnam has planed an active role in many regional and international events.

Vietnam has made critical contributions to the implementation of the ASEAN Charter and the building of the ASEAN Community, as well as taking over responsibilities in its role as a non-permanent member at the UN Security Council.

He told the participants that in the near future, Vietnam will host a series of important events, including those relating to its ASEAN Chairmanship and celebrations Hanoi-Thang Long’s 1,000th founding anniversary in 2010.

The Communist Party of Vietnam will also hold its 11th National Congress in early 2011 and map out a socio-economic development strategy for the next 10 years in a bid to speed up the industrialisation and modernisation process, and realise the goal of a rich people, a strong country, and an equitable, democratic, and civilised society, PM Dung elaborated.

On behalf of the Vietnamese government and people, PM Dung conveyed sincere gratitude to governments and peoples of countries around the world as well as to the ambassadors and representatives of international organisations for their warm sentiments and precious support for, and effective cooperation with, Vietnam over the years.

He also expressed his wish that the ambassadors and representatives would continue to serve as a firm bridge to strengthen the relationship between the international community and Vietnam

Chilean Ambassador Joge Canelas, on behalf of the guests, congratulated the Vietnamese government and people on their achievements and pledged to continue supporting Vietnam’s reform efforts.

PV