On Sunday, the Da Nang and Quang Nam Fellow Countrymen’s Associations in Ho Chi Minh City held a joint get-together for their fellow countrymen who are studying, working and living in the city.  Also present at the event were some leaders from Da Nang and Quang Nam Province.

On behalf of Da Nang’s leaders, the Secretary of the municipal Party Committee, Mr Tran Tho, affirmed that the Associations have acted as a bridge in promoting sentimental ties between fellow countrymen and their hometowns.  He also briefed the participants on Da Nang’s outstanding achievements over the past year, as well as introducing them to the city’s key tasks for this year and the coming years. 

The focus will be on implementing local key projects, developing local hi-tech zones, ensuring social welfare, and appealing for more domestic and foreign businesses to invest in the city.  The city’s leader also said he hopes that Da Nang’s fellow countrymen will carrry on with their efforts to make Da Nang a more civilised and modern city.

Also at the event, 19 groups and individuals were awarded with Certificates of Merit from Da Nang’s leaders in recognition of their outstanding involvement in activities launched by the Da Nang Fellow Countrymen’s Association over the last year.  The city’s leader also congratulated elderly fellow countrymen on their longevity.  Outstanding pupils and students from Da Nang who are living and studying in Ho Chi Minh City were honoured for their excellent academic results.  In addition, on behalf of the Da Nang authorities, the city’s leader donated 50 million VND to the Da Nang Fellow Countrymen’s Association.

To mark the occasion, the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Thien Hoa Interior Furniture and Electronics Centre, Mr Nguyen Quang Hoa, donated a collection of articles which prove Viet Nam’s sovereignty over the Hoang Sa and Truong Sa archipelagos.  Chairman Hoa had successfully bid 500 million VND for the collection at an auction which was held at last year’s Fellow Countrymen’s Associations get-together.  Collected by journalists Tran Thanh Phuong and Phan Thu Huong in Ho Chi Minh City, the articles have been published by Vietnamese newspapers and magazines over the past 65 years.