Friday, 02/08/2013 11:10 (GMT+7)
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The ASEAN flag hoisting ceremony in Perth. (Source: VNA) |
The Vietnamese Consulate in Perth, Australia organised a flag hoisting ceremony on August 1st to commemorate the 46th anniversary of the establishment of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).
The event attracted ASEAN member nation diplomats serving in West Australia, local officials, and current ASEAN expatriates and students.
West Australian Governor Malcolm McCusker praised ASEAN’s expanding relationship with Australia. He said he hopes the fruitful friendship and cooperation will continue developing into the future.
Consul General Le Viet Duyen described the flag hoisting ceremony as a display of the solidarity towards efforts to build a strong ASEAN community by 2015.
An ASEAN community with a rising international profile will facilitate peace, stability and prosperity both regionally and globally, Duyen said.
The Vietnamese diplomat also highlighted recent landmarks in ASEAN-Australia relations, mentioning successes spanning economics, politics, education, science and technology, and national defence and security, especially since the two sides set up their comprehensive partnership in 2007 and signed the ASEAN-Australia-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement in 2009.
He voiced his hope that more exchanges and cooperation activities will be promoted between ASEAN member countries and West Australia, heading towards the 40 th anniversary of the ASEAN-Australia dialogue partnership in 2014.
On the evening of the same day, ASEAN representative offices in Perth also jointly held a culture and food festival to introduce the specialities of the bloc’s member countries to local friends./.