(VNF) - The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) and the city's Vietnam-India Friendship Association co-organised a meeting on August 14^th to mark India’s 71^st Independence Day (August 15^th).

At the ceremony marking India’s 70^th anniversary of independence (August 15^th, 1947-2017).

Present at the ceremony were Major General Nguyen Van Nam, Deputy Commander of the Vietnam’s 7^th 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 Vietnam-India Friendship Association, Ho Thi Trinh Anh said that August 15^th, 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 emphasised that, on the basis of the longstanding traditional friendship initiated and nurtured by the Vietnam 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, defence, and security.

She said that in recent years, HUFO and the city’s Vietnam-India Friendship Association has cooperated with the Indian Consulate General successfully organised 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 two countries’ 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.

Indian Consul General in HCM City Smita Pant speaking at the ceremony. (Source: VNA)

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 Vietnam are holding a lot of activities to mark the 45^th anniversary of their diplomatic ties and 10 years of establishment of their strategic partnership.

Speaking highly of activities organised by HUFO and the city’s Vietnam-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./.

Performance at the ceremony. (Photo: Long Ho)

Translated by Minh Chau