Friendship exchange 'ASEAN Colors'

Delegates attending the "Brilliant ASEAN" friendship exchange program.

On the occasion of the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam (September 2, 1945 - September 2, 2025) and the 58th anniversary of the founding of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) (August 8, 1967 - August 8, 2025) and the 30th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to ASEAN (July 28, 1995 - July 28, 2025), on the evening of August 23, in Hanoi , the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations in coordination with the Embassies of Southeast Asian countries organized a friendship exchange program with the theme "ASEAN Colors".

Attending the program were: Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Ngo Le Van; Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Ngoc Hung; Vice President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee of Hanoi City Nguyen Thi Kim Dung; Deputy Head of the Propaganda and Mass Mobilization Department of the Hanoi Party Committee Nguyen Thi Hue.

Chairman of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Ngoc Ky delivered the opening speech at the friendship exchange program.

On the international side, there were Ambassadors and representatives of Embassies of Malaysia, Brunei, Cambodia, Laos, Philippines, Thailand, Myanmar, Indonesia, Bangladesh, Mongolia, and Russia.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Chairman of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Ngoc Ky said that after 58 years of establishment, ASEAN has demonstrated the strategic vision of its leaders, proving its efforts and successes recognized by the world .

ASEAN’s journey over the past half century has always contained great opportunities but also many hardships and ups and downs. ASEAN has been tempered and matured through each challenge, and gained more confidence and strength after each success. After all these ups and downs, the core values ​​that make up ASEAN’s identity and style are its efforts and determination to build a strong, united, and consensual community, ensuring peace, security and stability in the region, creating favorable conditions for promoting efforts for sustainable growth and development.

Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato' Tan Yang Thai speaks at the event.

“July 28, 1995 marked an important milestone when Vietnam became the seventh member of ASEAN. This was a great event for the Vietnamese people, of historical significance in the relationship between Vietnam and ASEAN countries. With a proactive, positive and responsible spirit, after 30 years of joining, Vietnam has not only fulfilled its commitments and obligations as a member country, but also made many important contributions to the stability, development and growth of ASEAN,” emphasized Chairman of the Hanoi Union of Friendship Organizations Nguyen Ngoc Ky.

Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato' Tan Yang Thai affirmed that the friendship exchange program "ASEAN Colors" is not simply a cultural festival, but also an opportunity for friends from ASEAN, Vietnam and the international community to meet.

Delegates take souvenir photos.

The program with the theme “ASEAN Colors” depicts the identity of the region, diverse but harmonious, different but close. Each country brings its own values ​​in terms of language, heritage and identity. All blend together to create a brilliant picture, representing the common destiny of ASEAN.

Malaysian Ambassador to Vietnam Dato' Tan Yang Thai emphasized that 2025 marks three important milestones with activities to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the National Day of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, the 30th anniversary of Vietnam's accession to ASEAN and the 58th anniversary of ASEAN's founding. These historical milestones remind us of the common journey we have traveled, as well as the great role of the people of the countries in the effort to create ASEAN's development journey.

Launched by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim at the 46th ASEAN Summit, the Kuala Lumpur Declaration on ASEAN 2045: Our Common Future calls for a resilient, innovative, dynamic and people-centred community. People’s participation will be essential to realizing this vision. ASEAN will continue to thrive in the decades to come, driven by the voices, creativity and aspirations of its member states.

Delegates view pictures displayed at the program.

Ambassador Dato' Tan Yang Thai also reaffirmed the common commitment to peace, friendship and cooperation, hoping that this spirit will inspire ASEAN to continue to strengthen friendship and solidarity to realize the everlasting aspiration of a peaceful, humane and modern ASEAN community.

The special “ASEAN Colors” friendship exchange program with “Heritage Colors” - an artistic message conveying Vietnamese identity to international friends, dance performances from Cambodia, Indonesia, Philippines…, traditional costume performances from Brunei, Laos, Myanmar…