An “ASEAN Night” kicked off in Ho Chi Minh City on August 8 as part of activities to mark the 40th founding anniversary of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

The event was jointly organised by the city’s Department of External Relations, the Department of Culture and Information, the Viet Nam Union of Friendship Organisations, HCM City chapter and ASEAN member countries’ consulates.

Addressing the function, Le Quoc Hung, Director of the Department of External Relations highlighted milestones during the founding of ASEAN as well as the association’s achievements over the last 40 years.

Since joining ASEAN, Viet Nam has expanded cooperation with regional countries, especially in the economic-trade sector, improving its position in the region and further integrating into the world economy, he said.

On behalf of ASEAN diplomats, Singaporean Consul General Chua Tin Chew praised Viet Nam’s active and dynamic membership since it joined the association in 1995.

The same day, a collection of ASEAN collective stamps was launched in Ha Noi, depicting 10 typical cultural, political and social scenes of the 10 ASEAN members.

Source: VNA