A sombre meeting took place in Vientiane on September 2 to celebrate National Day, in the presence of Lao Prime Minister Bouasone Boupphavanh and Deputy Prime Minister Somsavat Lengsavad.

In his speech, the Lao PM reviewed the Vietnamese revolution’s glorious stages under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam over the past 65 years and stressed that Laos and Vietnam have always stood side by side during their past struggles for national independence and the current process of national construction.

He congratulated Vietnam on its great achievements and wished the Vietnamese people greater successes in the future.

He confirmed that the Lao Party, Government and people will work shoulder to shoulder with the Vietnamese people to maintain their traditional friendship, special solidarity and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries, which were fostered by the late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Kaysone Phomvihane.

The Vietnamese Ambassador to Laos, Ta Minh Chau, thanked the Lao Party, Government and people for hosting the meeting which he said was an indication of the Vietnam-Laos special relationship.

On the occasion, several Lao newspapers, including the Paxaxon and Phathanna, ran articles highlighting the Vietnamese people’s glorious victories over the past 65 years.

A similar meeting was also held in Havana, Cuba, on September 1 to celebrate Vietnam’s National Day.

Speaking at the meeting, the Vice Chairman of the Cuba-Vietnam Friendship Association, Marta Roja, emphasised the great significance of September 2, 1945 when President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence announcing the birth of the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, and highlighted the sacrifices Vietnamese people made to gain their independence and freedom.

Later the same day, the Cuban Institute for Friendship with the People (ICAP) held a seminar on President Ho Chi Minh and Jose Marti.

Earlier, on September 1, the Vietnamese Embassy in India held a get-together in New Delhi to mark the event.

Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Tan expressed his sincere thanks for India’s valuable assistance to Vietnam during its wars of resistance against foreign aggressors in the past as well as its current cause of national construction.

He expressed his hope that with the agreement on cooperation and strategic partnership signed in 2007, the traditional friendship between Vietnam and India would develop more comprehensively in the future, for the mutual benefit of both countries and for peace and stability in the region and the world.

The Vietnamese Embassy in Switzerland organised a reception on the same day to mark National Day.

Ambassador Hoang Van Nha highlighted Vietnam’s remarkable achievements in economic development, poverty reduction and in the international integration process.

He was delighted at fine development in Vietnam-Switzerland relations during the past 40 years, since the two countries just established diplomatic ties.

The Vietnamese Consul General in Ekaterinburg, Russia, also held a meeting to mark National Day, attracting the participation of diplomats from both countries, representatives of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association and a large number of Vietnamese nationals currently living in Russia.

The Consulate General, Le Quy Quynh, emphasised the historical significance of the August Revolution and National Day. He thanked the Russian Government and its people for their huge support over past decades as well as their support for the Vietnamese community in Russia.

Vietnamese expatriates living in France also organised many cultural activities to mark National Day.

A diverse programme of music and dancing took place to commemorate late President Ho Chi Minh and highlight the beauty of Vietnam’s land and people.

*** On the occasion, the United Nations (UN) Secretary General Ban Ki-Moon sent a letter of congratulations to Vietnam’s State President Nguyen Minh Triet.

Vietnam’s Permanent Mission to the UN also held a reception on September 1 to mark National Day.

Present at the event were representatives from many countries, including the US, Russia, China, India, Japan and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), as well as a large number of Vietnamese people studying and living in New York.

In his letter to President Triet, the UN Secretary General said that with the support from Vietnam and other member countries, the UN continues to be the world’s leading forum and the most important channel to promote the international community’s will, in order to build a equitable, sustainable and prosperous world for all its people.

Mr Ban also expressed his hope that UN member countries will make a maximum effort to realise the Millennium Development Goals by 2015.

*** The Vietnamese Embassy in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, hosted a reception on September 2 to mark Vietnam's National Day.

The Chairman of the Cambodian National Assembly, Heng Samrin, and Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation. Hor Nam Hong, attended the event.

Addressing the reception, Ambassador Ngo Anh Dung spoke of the historical significance of September 2, 1945 – the day President Ho Chi Minh read the Declaration of Independence which gave birth to the Democratic Republic of Vietnam, now the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

He recalled the enormous achievements the Vietnamese Party, State and people in the past 65 years during which they fought for national liberation and reunification and worked to build and develop the country.

On behalf of the Cambodian Royal Government, Deputy Prime Minister Hor Nam Hong spoke highly of the time-honoured friendship and growing cooperation between the two countries. He expressed his pleasure at the surge in Vietnamese investment in Cambodia and trade between the two countries over the past years.

The same day, the Vietnamese embassy staff laid a wreath at the monument dedicated to Vietnamese volunteer soldiers who sacrificed their lives for the freedom of the Cambodian people.

*** In Jakarta, Indonesia, the Vietnamese embassy and the Vietnamese Permanent Delegation to ASEAN co-hosted a function marking both Vietnam’s 65^th National Day and the 55^th anniversary of Vietnam-Indonesia diplomatic ties.

In his opening speech, Ambassador Nguyen Huu Dung astressed Vietnam’s image and position and its deeper integration into the region and the world at large.

This year, Vietnam is working hard in its role of ASEAN Chair and has made important contributions to the group’s development to realise the ASEAN Community in 2015, he said.

He affirmed that Vietnam, as a UN member, has enforced its international commitments and has enthusiastically taken part in concerted efforts to deal with global issues such as climate change and food and energy security.

Speaking at the event, Indonesian Deputy Foreign Minister Triyono Wibowo warmly congratulated Vietnam on its 65^th National Day and underlined developments and the great benefits of multi-dimensional cooperation between the two countries in the past 55 years.

Prior to the event, Vietnamese representative agencies in Indonesia also organised an exhibition of photographs and paintings to promote the beauty of Vietnam and its people and feature Vietnam's dynamic and active involvement in ASEAN.

*** Activities to mark National Day were also held in several European countries.

In London, the Vietnamese embassy in the UK and Northern Ireland held a reception attended by representatives of Buckingham palace, parliament, ministries, and UK organisations, along with the UK-Vietnam Society, the Overseas Vietnamese Association, the Business Society, Vietnamese representative agencies and Vietnamese expatriates in the UK.

The event in Moscow saw the presence of Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Saltanov, representatives of the Russian and Moscow governments, President of the Russia-Vietnam Friendship Association, Vladimir Buiyanov, ambassadors of countries of the former Soviet Union and ASEAN, and representatives of other international organisations.

*** National Day celebrations were also held in Algeria, Argentina, Italy, South Africa, Mexico, Malaysia and China.