Participants at the ceremony were Major General Nguyen Van Nam, Deputy Commander of the Viet Nam’s 7th Military Region; Smita Pant, Indian Consul General in HCM City, representatives of various departments of the city and Indian community in HCM City.
Delivering the opening speech, Vice Chairwoman of the HCM City's Viet Nam - India Friendship Association, Ho Thi Trinh Anh said that August 15th, 1947 was an important event marking the birth of India, adding that over the past 70 years the Indian people have recorded important achievements in various fields.
The Vice Chairwoman emphsized that, on the basis of the longstanding traditional friendship initiated and nurtured by the Viet Nam President Ho Chi Minh and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, two countries have become close and trustworthy partners whose cooperation has developed in numerous fields, including politics, economics, science technology, defense, and security.
She said that in recent years, HUFO and the HCM Viet Nam - India Friendship Association has cooperated with the Indian Consulate General successfully organized a wide range of friendship and people-to-people diplomacy activities and greatly contributed to the consolidation and development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries as well its people.
She added that she believes that the strategic partnership will further flourish and reap more achievements for the practical benefit of both sides and for peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in the region and the world.
Speaking at the event, Indian Consul General in HCM City Smita Pant said that this day 70 years ago was an important historic milestone, helping India grow into Asia’s third largest economy which has had great contributions to peace, stability and development in the region and the world.
In 2017, India and Viet Nam are holding a lot of activities to mark the 45th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and 10 years of establishment of their strategic partnership.
Speaking highly of activities organized by HUFO and the city’s Viet Nam - India Friendship Association, Smita Pant affirmed that the Indian Consulate General wants to coordinate closely with the city to intensify cultural exchanges, people-to-people diplomacy, and business connectivity in order to develop the two countries’ friendship and cooperation.
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