Lunar New Year gifts presented to disadvantaged households in HCM city
	Famous incense-making village in Hue turns colorful as Tet nears
	Western Nghe An dyed white by full-bloomed plum flowers

Photo: Vietnam Plus

On the evening of February 6, the Vietnamese Embassy in Singapore held an event named Tet Cong Dong to welcome the New Year of Ox with the participation of overseas Vietnamese, together with the representative agencies in the host country. This year, due to the acute respiratory infections of COVID-19 and the strict Singapore Government's regulations on pandemic prevention, the number of attendees and festival activities is limited, but the atmosphere is still cheerful.

Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Singapore Tao Thi Thanh Huong informed the achievements that Vietnam has achieved in 2020 in the regional and global context, especially during the pandemic period. The Ambassador said that while the majority of countries had negative Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth or fell into a recession due to the impact of the pandemic, Vietnam's economy still grew 2.91 percent positively. Labor productivity increases 5.8% / year on average. Vietnam's global innovation index in 2020 is ranked 42 out of 131 countries, leading the group of 29 countries with the same income level.

Photo: Vietnam Plus

2020 is considered an outstanding year of success and willpower to rise above difficulties and challenges, also the year when the people's confidence index is at the highest.

According to the Ambassador, Vietnam has well prepared for international economic integration through the participation in the new generation of free trade agreements, which, according to many economists, have created breakthroughs in international economic relations for sustainable development, contributing to enhancing Vietnam's reputation and position in the international arena.

In particular, 2020 is a historic time for Vietnam when the country has successfully completed both responsibilities as the Chairman of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) 2020 and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council. In the context of COVID-19, Vietnam has been highly appreciated by ASEAN countries, the United Nations, and international friends.

The Ambassador emphasized that the XIII National Congress of the Communist Party of Vietnam has been a great success, encouraging the whole country to continue to overcome all difficulties, challenges, take advantage of opportunities, and strengthen international cooperation, strive to soon bring the country into a developed stage with high income.

Photo: Vietnam Plus

Besides, Ambassador Tao Thi Thanh Huong also affirmed that in the pandemic context, the Vietnam-Singapore strategic partnership continues to be strengthened and developed. The two countries cooperate closely in the implementation of the tasks of ASEAN Chairmanship 2020 and Non-Permanent Member of the UNSC, and especially in the prevention of COVID-19, the agreement on Food Security. In terms of foreign direct investment (FDI) in 2020, Singapore ranks first among countries and territories investing in Vietnam, with nearly $9 billion of investment in 248 newly licensed projects. Singapore also ranked third with a total registered capital of more than 56 billion USD with 2,629 projects.

In addition, the Ambassador also highly appreciated the positive contributions of the Vietnamese community to the homeland, the country, and to the Vietnam-Singapore cooperation relationship. The Ambassador affirmed that these achievements are based on the efforts of the great unity bloc of Vietnamese people, including the overseas Vietnamese community.

Also on this Tet Cong Dong occasion, Ambassador Tao Thi Thanh Huong awarded certificates of merit to overseas Vietnamese for their positive contributions to the Embassy's activities and the Vietnam-Singapore bilateral relationship.

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