Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City on Sunday conducted a ceremony to fly the ASEAN flag in the heart of the city to mark 20 years of Vietnam’s admission to the bloc and the 48th founding anniversary of the group. The flag-hoisting ceremony was organized at a park at Bach Dang Quay, District 1, with the participation of the city’s leaders, including Le Hoang Quan, chairman of the municipal People’s Committee, and representatives from ministries, state agencies, and embassies as well as consuls general of the ASEAN member states. “This is an event of great significance to the city administration and its residents as this is the first time that the municipal authorities have inaugurated the ASEAN flag pole, along with those of the bloc’s country members, in the downtown area,” said Nguyen Vu Tu, director of the Ho Chi Minh City Department of External Affairs. The display of the ASEAN flag and those of its 10 members shows the city’s determination to promote the images of the regional countries and the ASEAN community to local people, Tu added. Addressing the ceremony, Chairman Quan highlighted Vietnam’s active contribution to the development of the grouping over the past 20 years. The flag-flying ceremony was followed by another that was held at the Municipal Theater of Ho Chi Minh City to mark 20 years of Vietnam joining ASEAN (July 28, 1995) and 48 years of the establishment of the group (August 8, 1967). Speaking at the event, Chairman Quan said, “Ho Chi Minh City has always proceeded with activities to promote bilateral and multilateral ties with the other ASEAN countries.” To date, the city has set up twin relations with six localities in other ASEAN countries, Quan said. He added that nine ASEAN countries have invested US$15 billion in more than 1,190 projects in Ho Chi Minh City.  ASEAN, or the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, is a political and economic organization with 10 members, including Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.

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