​Attending at the bridge point of Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association Central Committee were Ambassador Nguyen Duc Hung – Counselor of the General Secretary, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of the Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association Central Committee.

At Binh Duong bridge point, there were Ms. Eva Lim - Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City; Ms. Tran Thi Thu Thuy - Chief of the representative office in the South region of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations; Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha - Member of Provincial Standing Party Committee, Vice Chairman of Provincial People's Committee; Ms. Nguyen Truong Nhat Phuong - Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Council; Ms. Tran Thi Kim Lan - Vice Chairwoman of the Provincial Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front; Ms. Tran Thi Kim Van - Chairman of the Provincial Union of Friendship Organizations; leaders of departments, committees and branches; and 60 delegates who are members of the Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association in Binh Duong province.

Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha (right) - Member of Provincial Standing Party Committee, Vice Chairman of Provincial People's Committee presents a congratulatory flower stand from Provincial Party Committee, People's Council, People's Committee, Provincial Committee of Vietnam Fatherland Front to the Congress

Ms. Eva Lim - Consul of the Consulate General of the Republic of Singapore in Ho Chi Minh City presents a congratulatory flower stand to the Congress

Ms. Tran Thi Thu Thuy - Chief of the representative office in the South region of Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations presents a congratulatory flower stand to the Congress

The Congress announced the Decision no. 2780/QD-UBND dated December 06, 2021 of the Provincial People's Committee allowing the establishment of the Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association in Binh Duong province. Accordingly, the Association is a social organization with the aim of contributing to strengthening and expanding the relationship of solidarity, friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples of Vietnam and Singapore in general, Binh Duong province and the localities of Singapore in particular; consolidating and developing cooperation relations in economy, trade, science, technology, education - training, culture, sports, tourism and other areas of interest between the people of Binh Duong and the people of Singapore, for the sake of the people, for peace, cooperation and development.

The Congress consulted to elect 11 delegates to join the Association's Executive Committee, in which the Standing Committee of the Association had 05 people (including 01 Chairman, 02 Vice-Chairmen and 02 Members). Mr. Nguyen Thanh Trung - Deputy Head of Provincial Industrial Zones Authority acts as Chairman of the Association.

The Executive Committee of Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association for the 2022-2027 tenure is launched

According to the Resolution passed at the Congress, for the 2022-2027 tenure, the Association will implement a number of key programs and activities: Continuing to pay attention to member development, organizing exchange activities, supporting and helping members; building and organizing the effective implementation of the Association's movements and activities. At the same time, the Association will coordinate with the Department of Foreign Affairs to organize activities of friendship exchanges, meetings and twinning between Binh Duong province and localities of Singapore; act as a bridge for enterprises of Binh Duong and Singapore to establish and expand cooperation and business relationships in the fields, share experiences in developing industry, services, construction, etc. especially in Singapore's strong areas. Along with that, the Association will also coordinate to organize exchange activities on education, charity and humanitarianism in Binh Duong.

Vice Chairman of the Provincial People's Committee Nguyen Loc Ha gives a directing speech at the Congress

Speaking at the Congress, Mr. Nguyen Loc Ha said that in the context of the complicated Covid-19 pandemic leading to the stagnation of exchanges between countries, people-to-people diplomacy faces new tasks with many difficulties and challenges that require a new approach. The establishment of bilateral friendship associations such as the Vietnam - Singapore Friendship Association in Binh Duong province is very meaningful in the new situation, contributing to the expansion of friendship and international cooperation for the purpose of socio-economic development and foreign investment attraction of the province. He suggested that after the Congress, the Association should quickly deploy and operate on the basis of sticking to the set principles and purposes. He hoped that the members of the Association's Executive Committee would uphold the sense of responsibility, solidarity, unity, dynamism and creativity in operating, successfully implementing the Resolution of the Congress. In particular, it is necessary to proactively propose and coordinate with Singaporean partners to organize people-to-people exchange activities, contributing to enhancing the friendship, understanding and cooperation between the peoples of the two countries; continue to expand the network of friends and partners with people's organizations, media, research and training institutes of Singapore and the Vietnamese community living, studying and working in friend country.

Reported by Phuong Chi-Translated by Nguyen Trang