(VOVworld) – A flag raising ceremony was held in HCM city on Sunday to mark 20 years of Vietnam’s ASEAN membership on July 28. Chairman of the Municipal People’s Committee Le Hong Quan said that ASEAN has always been Vietnam’s top priority in its foreign policy and international integration.

HCM city has established twin relations with 6 localities of other ASEAN countries. ASEAN countries have invested 15 billion USD in more than 1,100 projects in HCM city. Malaysian Consul General Sofia Akmalabd Karim said the building of an ASEAN Community is an important task and is a continual process, which requires concensus and support from people from all walks of life from all ASEAN member states.