(VOVworld) - The Vietnam-Ukraine Friendship Association (VUFA) and the Ukrainian Embassy in Vietnam held a ceremony in Hanoi on Friday to mark the 23rd anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties (January 1, 1992) and 20 years of the association (January 12,1995). VUFA Chairman Dang Van Chien said the Vietnamese people always remembered and were grateful to the valuable assistance and support of their Ukrainian friends in the past struggle for national independence as well as in the current national construction and development. Vietnam and Ukraine have witnessed rapid growth in two-way trade which increased from 151 million USD in 2007 to 350 million USD in 2013. Vietnam mainly exported farm and forestry products, seafood, garment-textiles and footwear to the European market, while importing iron and steel, fertilizer, chemicals and machinery.

Chien said that over the past 20 years, the VUFA has made active contributions to strengthening the traditional solidarity, friendship and cooperation between the two nations. The Ukrainian Ambassador to Vietnam, Oleksiy Shovkoplias, said he hoped the association will continue friendly exchanges in the coming time to enhance the mutual understanding between the two peoples.