Hanoi (VNA) –Vietnamese embassies and representative agencies around the world have heldactivities to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Vietnam's National Day (September 2).

In Switzerland, theVietnamese Permanent Mission to the United Nations, World Trade Organisation (WTO) and other international organisationsin Geneva held a ceremony to mark the special day.

Addressing the event,Ambassador Le Thi Tuyet Mai, head of the mission, reviewed the progress ofVietnam over the past 75 years to the goal of prosperious people, strongnation, democracy, equality and civilisation.

She noted that Vietnam hasbeen maintaining high economic growth, improving people’s living conditions, ensuringsocio-political stability and defence-security, and completing legalinstitutions, while expanding external relations and making contributions toregional peace and cooperation.

Mai said that UNSecretary-General Antonio Guterres on August 27 lauded Vietnam’s contributionssince the country joined the UN in 1977, while clarifying that Vietnam hastaken the lead in completing the UN development goals and showed activeengagement in protecting peace and security.

She said that the mission hasworked to realise Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence,self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation, active and positiveinternational integration and being friend and trust-worthy partner andresponsible member of the international community. The mission has alsoimplemented the policy of promoting cooperation with countries on thefoundation of respecting each other’s independence, sovereignty as well asequality, mutual interest, and the settlement of differences through peacefulmeasures in line with international law, Mai stated.

In the Czech Republic, the Vietnamese Embassy in Prague helda ceremony to mark the 75th National Day, which drew the participation of Czech PrimeMinister Andrej Babis, Deputy Speaker of the Chamber of Deputies of the Czech Republic’s Parliament Vojtech Filip, Deputy Foreign Minister Martin Tlapa, and otherofficials of the host country, as well as the ambassadors of ASEAN countries inthe Czech Republic and the Vietnamese community in the country.

Addressing the event, Deputy Ambassador Tran Thanh Huongsaid that Vietnam has risen from a war-torn country to a middle-income nation,with GDP growth staying at 6-7 percent and the growth rate in 2019 was eight times higher than that in1986.

Vietnamis now one of the fastest growing economies in Southeast Asia.In 2020, despite a wide range of difficulties resulted from the COVID-19 pandemic, Vietnam hasworked to complete the double target of preventing the spread of thepandemic and maintan economic growth. The country’s GDP growth isprojected at 3-4 percent in 2020 and the economy is forecast to recover in2021.  

TheEU-Vietnam Free Trade Agreement (EVFTA), which took effect from August 1, 2020,is expected to help promote economic ties between Vietnam and the EU and theCzech Republic in particular, she said.

The100-million-strong market of Vietnam is a favourable destination for Czechfirms, the diplomat added.

Shealso highlighted the traditional friendship between Vietnam and the CzechRepublic, stressing that Vietnam highly valued  the Czech Republic's support toits national construction and defence. The bilateral relationship have becomedeeper with regular visits by leaders of both sides, she said, adding thatVietnam expects the visit by Prime Minister Andrej Babis this year on theoccasion of the 70th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties.

Forhis part, PM Andrej Babis showed his pleasure at the development of the bilateralpartnership in various fields such as defence, security, trade, culture, aswell as cooperation in opening a direct air route between Prague and Hanoi,which will make his visit to Vietnam easier.

Hehighly valued coordination between the Czech Republic and Vietnam when theCOVID-19 pandemic broke out, while lauding the Vietnamese side’s efforts torepatriate its citizens.

The PM also hailed the endeavours of the Vietnamese community in the European country in fightingthe pandemic through providing financial support to hospitals and medicalstaff.

Heheld that the EVFTA will help strengthen trade between the Czech Republic andVietnam.

Speakingto Vietnamese correspondents in the Czech Republic, Deputy Speaker ofthe Chamber of Deputies of the CzechRepublic’s Parliament Vojtech Filip said that the CzechRepublic-Vietnam long-lasting strategic partnership has expanded despite theimpacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. He held that not only the leaders of both sidesbut the two business communities have paid attention to the development of bilateralties, which enables both countries to overcome consequences caused by the pandemic.

Participantsat the event had a chance to enjoy Vietnamese dishes and photos on Vietnam andthe Vietnam-Czech relations.

Alsoon September 1, theVietnamese Embassy in Belgium-Luxembourg and the Vietnamese mission to the EUheld a get-together to mark Vietnam's National Day.

Speakingat the event, Ambassador Vu Anh Minh said that the National Day of Vietnam is celebrated in an unprecedented circumstance when the COVID-19 pandemic iscausing great losses in health, human lives and socio-economy as well as internationalrelations.

Inthis context, Vietnam is well performing the role as ASEAN Chair, President of the41st General Assembly of AIPA and non-permanent member of the UNSecurity Council, he said, adding that the country has put forth important initiatives.

Thesame day, representatives of the Vietnamese community in the UK gathered inLondon for National Day celebrations.

Addressing the event, Vietnamese Ambassador to the UKTran Ngoc An reviewed socio-economic achievements of Vietnam over the years aswell as the country’s contributions to peace and cooperation in the region andthe world.

Anlauded the progress of the Vietnam-UK ties, expressing belief that thepartnership will continue to thrive in the future./.