A photo exhibition featuring Vietnam’s achievements, land and people was opened in Kyiv, Ukraine, on September 13 as part of the celebrations of Vietnam’s 74th National Day (September 2).

Addressing the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Ukraine Nguyen Anh Tuan said the Vietnamese people have overcome numerous difficulties over the past 74 years to defend the country’s independence, freedom, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

Vietnam has do its utmost to contribute to peace, friendship and progress in the region and the world, he said, adding that with its foreign policy of independence, self-reliance and peace, Vietnam has actively promoted international cooperation and integration, especially reinforcing solidarity in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and promoting the bloc’s central role in Asia-Pacific.

The ambassador also highlighted Vietnam’s outstanding external accomplishments in recent years such as the successful hosting of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Year 2017, the Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in January 2018, the World Economic Forum in September 2018, and the second summit between the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) and the US in February 2019.

In 2020, Vietnam will concurrently assume the role of ASEAN Chair and non-permanent membership of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term, showing its efforts in promoting regional and global integration, he stressed.

Regarding relations between Vietnam and Ukraine, the diplomat expressed his belief that the bilateral comprehensive cooperative partnership will reap a lot of fruits in the coming years based on the firm foundation of the traditional friendship.

Zhanna Leschynska, Acting Director General of the Directorate General for the Asia- Pacific Region under the Ukrainian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said Ukraine always attaches great importance to its relations with Vietnam and believed that the bilateral cooperative ties will thrive in the time to come.

The official also highly evaluated Vietnam’s achievements in national development and international integration as well as its growing position on the international arena.