(VOVworld) - The Vietnamese Embassy in Italy yesterday hold an ASEAN flag raising ceremony to mark the 45th founding anniversary of ASEAN and 17 years since Vietnam joined the organisation. Speaking at the ceremony, Vietnamese Ambassador to Italy Nguyen Hoang Long reviewed the founding and development of the Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). He said the flag-hoisting commemorates ASEAN’s founding day, August 8, 1967, and symbolises the commitment of ASEAN’s member countries to the goal of establishing an ASEAN Community by 2015. He added that the ceremony also reflects growing cooperation between ASEAN and Italy.

Vietnamese Ambassador Nguyen Hoang Long and other ASEAN ambassadors at the ceremony. (Photo: PX Rome)

Last week, the Italian Ministry of Foreign Relations in conjunction with the General Confederation of Italian Industry (Confindustria) held a forum on ASEAN in Rome, to boost economic cooperation between Italy and ASEAN. This was the first event of its kind ever organised in a European country.