(VUFO) - The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) in coordination with the city's Vietnam-UK Friendship Association (VUFA-HCMC) held a ceremony on June 4^th to celebrate the 92^nd birthday of Queen Elizabeth II (April 24^th, 1926) and the 45^th anniversary of Vietnam – UK diplomatic ties (1973-2018).

Overview of the celebration. (Photo: VNA)

Addressing the event, Chairman of the VUFA-HCMC, Tran Hung Viet, expressed his respect for the Queen and extended his best wishes to her on the occasion of her birthday.

He noted with pleasure that the ceremony was held at a time when Vietnam and the UK have witnessed fine developments in their diplomatic ties.

The two sides have maintained regular exchanges of high-ranking delegations and boosted economic and trade ties, which have opened many opportunities for businesses from the two countries.

He conveyed his thanks to the UK Consulate General and the UK Business Association in HCM City for their support for the VUFA-HCMC’s operations, so that it can well perform the role of connecting people from both sides in the fields of culture and education.

The association committed further contributions to bolstering people-to-people exchanges between HCM City and the UK, helping enhance the traditional relationship between the two countries, he pledged.

For his part, UK Consul General in HCM City, Ian Gibbons, thanked the VUFA-HCMC for hosting the event, highlighting that 2017 was a successful year for Vietnam-UK bilateral ties when Vietnam welcomed many delegations from the UK.

More UK high-ranking officials will pay visit to Vietnam in the coming time to tighten the cooperative relations between the two countries, he said.

People-to-people exchange through education is one of the most significant aspects in the bilateral ties, he underscored, lauding the VUFA-HCM City’s efforts in promoting the good friendship between HCM City dwellers and the British, he added.

The VUFA-HCMC chapter of the Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature launched.

On this occasion, the VUFA-HCMC launched a chapter of the Faculty of English Linguistics and Literature under the HCM city’s University of Social Sciences and Humanities.

As of April 2018, Vietnam and the UK enjoyed over USD 2 billion in two-way trade, with USD 1.75 billion of which coming from Vietnamese exports.

Last year, 285,000 British people visited Vietnam, including 116,000 arrivals to HCM City. Currently, there are more than 10,000 Vietnamese students pursuing study in the UK./.

Translated by Minh Chau