The Vietnamese Consulate General in Hong Kong and Macau (China) set the stage for Lunar New Year festivities with a gathering on January 10, attracting nearly 500 guests, VNA reported.

Speaking at the event, the Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong (China) Pham Binh Dam expressed his delight at the establishment of the Vietnamese Association in Hong Kong, highlighting it as a noteworthy stride in the Consulate General's community engagement initiatives.

He noted that in October 2023, the Consulate General effectively advocated for the removal of visa restrictions by Hong Kong authorities, clearing the path for the formation of new community groups.

Delegates at the gathering. Photo: VNA

According to Dam, the Vietnamese Students’ Association in Hong Kong (VSAHK) was also established last year, uniting existing students and welcoming a new influx of members.

Highlighting the academic realm, Dam said the top two universities in Hong Kong, the University of Hong Kong (HKU) and the Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), have initiated exclusive scholarship programs for Vietnamese students, presenting an unprecedented number of over 120 scholarships.

On the occasion, the VSAHK debuted its new executive board.

The Consulate General also presented certificates of merit to several Vietnamese residing and working in Hong Kong, in recognition of their active contributions to the homeland.

Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong Pham Binh Dam presents certificates of merit to outstanding individuals. Source: Vietnamese Students’ Association in Hong Kong

On behalf of the Vietnamese Community in Macau, Duong Trung Duc, chair of the Vietnamese Association in Macau, hopes that in the coming time, the Vietnamese Association in the two special administrative regions will regularly exchange updated information, enhance cultural, sports, and artistic exchanges to create a closer bond between the two associations.

In a recent interview, Vietnamese Consul General Pham Binh Dam also said the Consulate General will step up the exchange of delegations between ministries, agencies, and localities, as well as high-level visits between Vietnam and Hong Kong this year.

Vietnamese Consul General in Hong Kong Pham Binh Dam and delegates. Source: Vietnamese Students’ Association in Hong Kong

The two sides are reciprocal in education, labor, investment, and finance-banking, and cooperation agreements in these fields are expected to be signed in the time ahead, he said.

About specific solutions to strengthen the bilateral ties in culture, education, and economy, Dam suggested the two sides step up communications and delegation exchange, and support visa policy relaxation with cooperation in tourism.

Vietnam should diversify tourism promotion methods to attract Hong Kong holidaymakers, and seek cooperation with Hong Kong in education, he said, elaborating that apart from scholarships for students, the collaboration would be expanded to research and the exchange of lecturers.

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