(VOVworld) - The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations (HUFO) and the city’s Vietnam-Malaysia Friendship Association (HVMFA) celebrated Malaysia’s 58th National Day (August 31) on Friday. Speaking at the celebrations, HVMFA President Nguyen Thi Lien said friendship and comprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and Malaysia had been bolstered and developed in multiple areas since the two countries officially established diplomatic ties over four decades ago. The Malaysian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Sofian Akmal Bin Abd. Karim, hailed the 40-year development of the countries’ relations, emphasizing that Vietnam, particularly Ho Chi Minh City, is a favoured holiday destination for Malaysian nationals. He said that as the chair of ASEAN for 2015 and working towards the theme of its chairmanship – “Our People, Our Community, Our Vision”, Malaysia looks to coordinate with Vietnam and other ASEAN member states to bring people closer to each other and create a people-centered ASEAN community.