Tet celebrations in Russia and Sri Lanka

Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Pham Xuan Son sent best wishes to the OV in Russia on the occasion of the Lunar New Year and praised the community for their significant progress during the past year.

Tran Dang Chung, President of the Vietnamese Business Association in Russia in turn, said businesses have been developing strongly, laying a firm foundation for further development of the whole OV community in Russia.

Vietnamese families at the events are enjoying the traditional sights and sounds of the New Year along with special art performances, dance and music in addition to traditional TET special foods.

Meanwhile in Sri Lanka, Ambassador Ton Sinh Thanh briefed attendees at a gathering on the country’s premier accomplishments over the past year and progress in strengthening Vietnam-Sri Lanka bilateral relations.

Thanh emphasized that 2013 was a highly successful year in cooperative relations between the two countries, especially in the areas of economics and culture.

He optimistically expressed his hope that OVs in Sri Lanka will further boost solidarity and hold more activities with the homeland, contributing to strengthen bilateral ties.

President Mahinda Rajapaksa’s special envoy and the General Secretary of Communist Party Minister D.E.W. Gunasekera, who is just concluding a visit to Vietnam, said he is impressed by its development and willingness to support international friends, including Sri Lanka.

At the ceremony, ambassador Thanh presented an award to Sri Lanka painter Gihan Thennakoon, for his portrait of President Ho Chi Minh.