Ho Chi Minh City Consulate General Hosts Diplomatic Reception Celebrating 68 Years of Diplomatic Relations

INDUSTRY.co.id - Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam - Commemorating 68 years of Diplomatic Relations and 10 years of Indonesia-Vietnam Strategic Partnership, the Indonesian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City held a diplomatic reception (04/12). The diplomatic reception was attended by former Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang who agreed to upgrade Indonesia-Vietnam bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership with former Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono in 2013.

"In the region, Indonesia and Vietnam have worked together within the ASEAN framework, including when Indonesia held the ASEAN chairmanship - and this strengthens both countries' determination to ensure the Southeast Asian region remains safe, robust and prosperous," Indonesian Ambassador to Vietnam Denny Abdi said in his remarks. Furthermore, Ambassador Denny informed that Meet Indonesia will be held by the Indonesian Embassy in Hanoi in collaboration with the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on 21-22 March 2024 in Nha Trang to open wide opportunities for trade and investment cooperation between Indonesia and Vietnam in 5 (five) main sectors, namely high-tech industries, renewable energy, digital economy, fisheries, and agriculture, as well as tourism.

The Indonesian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Agustaviano Sofjan in his speech said that the Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City cooperates with relevant partners in Ho Chi Minh City and provinces in southern Vietnam. In 2023, the Consulate General organised various economic, social and cultural activities to encourage increased cooperation and strengthen community relations between the two countries. Consul General Agustaviano also said that Indonesia - Vietnam have similar values to promote SDGs through integrating economic, social and environmental development to achieve net zero carbon emission targets.

Building on the Indonesia - Vietnam Strategic Partnership in various fields, Vice Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, Mr Vo Van Hoan, as guest of honour, highlighted that at the 43rd ASEAN Summit last September in Jakarta, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and President Joko Widodo agreed to further enhance cooperation through bilateral mechanisms, thus creating momentum to elevate the Strategic Partnership to a new level towards a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the future.

Currently, Indonesia is Vietnam's 3rd largest trading partner and for Indonesia, Vietnam is the 4th largest trading partner in Southeast Asia. As one of Indonesia's largest trading partners - Vietnam has a new target of achieving a trade value of USD 15 billion by 2028. On the investment side, as of June 2023, Indonesia's accumulated investment reached more than USD 645 million. Therefore, there is a huge opportunity for both countries to increase economic cooperation.

The diplomatic reception featured Indonesian arts and culture in the form of songs, including "Bengawan Solo" from Indonesian diaspora singers and Indonesian dances performed by Vietnamese students of the Indonesian Studies Programme from the University of Social Science and Humanities HCMC.

The audience also enjoyed rendang (caramelized beef curry) and salak imported from Indonesia as the favourites of the Indonesian food served that night, in addition to satay, siomay (steamed dumplings), bakso (meatball) and market snacks onde-onde (round fried cake made of rice flour with mung beans), sarikaya, kue talam and tempe chips. The Diplomatic Reception ended with a Gemu Famire dance which was followed by all attendees.