Attending the ceremony, from Dong Nai province, there were: Permanent Deputy Secretary of the Provincial Party Committee Ho Thanh Son; Head of the Provincial People's Committee Dao Van Phuoc; Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang; Chairman of provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee Cao Van Quang.
Also attending the ceremony were President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) Nguyen Phuong Nga and representatives of the Consulate General of ASEAN countries in Ho Chi Minh City including Indonesia, Laos, Cambodia, Thailand, and the Philippines.
Addressing the event, Vice Chairwoman of the provincial People’s Committee Nguyen Thi Hoang said that over the past 25 years Vietnam has become an active and responsible member of the bloc and played a crucial role in setting development goals and orientations and shaping major policies.
In particular, it successfully fulfilled its role as ASEAN Chair three times, contributing to improving its role and stature in the region and the world.
The Vietnamese Party and State are currently paying attention to developing friendships with countries and territories worldwide, especially ASEAN member states, she said, adding that ASEAN countries have traditional and cooperative ties with Vietnam and Dong Nai in particular, with the common goal of establishing an area of peace, freedom, and neutrality in Southeast Asia.
Six regional countries are now investing in Dong Nai - Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Indonesia - with 150 projects and investment of over 5.32 billion USD. Companies in the province export over 50 types of goods to the bloc.
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| President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Phuong Nga (middle) and provincial leaders congratulated the Mobilisation Committee for the establishment of the Vietnam - ASEAN Friendship Association in Dong Nai. Photo: VUFO |
Its exports to ASEAN have risen steadily over the years, reaching nearly 1.57 billion USD in 2016, over 1.81 billion USD in 2018, and some 2.1 billion USD in 2019.
In particular, the province has set up Vietnam - Laos, Vietnam - Cambodia, and Vietnam - Thailand friendship associations, which have become a bridge fostering friendships with individuals from those countries and encouraging the involvement of citizens and organisations from all walks of life in external activities via people-to-people exchanges, contributing to local socio-economic development.
The committee, which is the 10th member organization of the provincial Union of Friendship Organizations, consists of seven members, led by Mai Van Nhon.
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| Nguyen Phuong Nga - President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations speaks at the ceremony. Photo: VUFO |
Speaking at the event, VUFO President Nguyen Phuong Nga sent her congratulations to the Mobilisation Committee for the establishment of the Vietnam - ASEAN Friendship Association in Dong Nai province.
Nga expressed her hope that the Vietnam - ASEAN Friendship Association of Dong Nai province, with the core members of the Mobilisation Committee, will do a good role as an advisor and a key force in the implementation activities with diversified, appropriate, practical and effective forms to enhance understanding and friendship exchange between the people of Vietnam and the people of ASEAN countries.
The VUFO President also pledged to work together with the Central Vietnam - ASEAN Friendship and Cooperation Association to create the most favorable conditions and closely coordinate in information exchange for the Vietnam - ASEAN Friendship Association of Dong Nai province to best fulfill its tasks.
Nga firmly believes that, in the coming time, with the cooperation of the Consulate General of ASEAN countries in Vietnam, the ASEAN Community will become stronger; the exchange people between Vietnam and each ASEAN countries in particular and the bloc will develop both breadth and depth./.
Q.H t.h / thoidai.com.vn
