Vietnam-Germany Friendship Association marks 35th anniversary
VOV.VN - The Vietnam-Germany Friendship Association held a ceremony in Hanoi on October 16 to celebrate 35 years of its founding anniversary and 45 years of diplomatic ties between the two countries.
In his opening speech, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, who is also president of the Vietnam-Germany Friendship Association, noted over the past 35 years the association has worked actively to strengthen solidarity with German people and international friends, significantly contributing to the country’s construction and defence, as well as its global integration.
The association has raised funds for poor people, victims of Agent Orange/dioxin and soldiers and residents stationed at seas and in border areas. It has carried out activities to popularize Vietnamese culture in Germany, and to strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the two countries.
German Ambassador to Vietnam Guido Hildner noted with satisfaction the fine development of Germany-Vietnam relations, saying both countries are accelerating bilateral cooperation in various areas, including education.
Currently about 7,500 Vietnamese students are studying in Germany, he said hoping education will be one of the major highlights in bilateral cooperation.
He took the occasion to thank the Vietnamese government and people for handing over more than 80,000 face masks to German people, helping them fight against COVID-19.
On behalf of the Party and State, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung honoured the association with the Labour Order, second class, in recognition of its contribution to promoting friendship and cooperation between the two countries.
Currently Germany is Vietnam’s largest trading partner in Europe, accounting for nearly 20% of its exports to the European Union. Germany is also an important gateway for Vietnamese goods to enter other markets in Europe.
Meanwhile, Vietnam is also an important partner of Germany in Asia and ASEAN. Two-way trade turnover last year reached over US$10.24 billion.
German investors consider Vietnam a potentially fast growing market in Asia, second only to China and India. Germany currently has 361 projects with a total registered investment capital of US$2.06 billion, ranking 4th in the EU and 18th out of 132 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.