The Vietnamese Embassy in Laos hosted a get-together to welcome the traditional Lunar New Year (Tet) festival in Vientiane on January 25.
The event was attended by Laos ’ Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Somsavad Lengsavath, Deputy Prime Minister and Defence Minister Douangchay Phichith and other high-ranking officials.
On addressing the meeting, Vietnamese Ambassador Ta Minh Chau said that 2010 saw Vietnam and Laos recording many achievements in developing their economies, maintaining socio-economic stability and national construction and defence.
Both countries successfully organised grand celebrations, helping to raise their prestige and position in the region and the world arena, said the Vietnamese diplomat, noting that last year Vietnam successfully chaired the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
Deputy PM Somsavad Lengsavath, on behalf of the Laotian Party and State, extended his New Year wishes to all Vietnamese people and gave his thanks to the Party, State and Vietnamese people for their support during the Laotian revolution. He said he hoped that relations between the two countries would continue to prosper.
On the occasion, Tran Bac Ha, Chairman of the Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam (BIDV), presented 1,000 computers to the Laotian Government.
On the same day, the Vietnamese Embassy in the Egyptian capital city of Cairo also held a New Year meeting with many of the Vietnamese community and diplomats in attendance.
In Paris , over 6,000 young Vietnamese people and students held an array of activities to celebrate the Tet festival and the traditional day for Vietnamese students, on January 9, as well as for 2011 Young Persons Year.
Hoang Nang Thang, Chairman of the Union of Vietnamese Students in France (UEVF), said the association will organise its annual programme to welcome the Lunar New Year on the evening of Febuary 12 in the Armande Béjart Theatre.
The event is aimed at boosting exchanges and solidarity between overseas Vietnamese and promoting the country’s image to international friends.
On those days, the UEVF in 17 cities and provinces across France will launch numerous activities, including arts programmes, a photo exhibition and film shows./.
(VNA)
