The Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organisations (HUFO) held a meeting on July 5 to celebrate the 237th US Independence Day (July 4). Vietnam-US Friendship Association HCM City Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Ngoc Phuong summarised the bilateral relationship’s streak of success following the normalisation of relations in 1995. She highlighted triumphs in economics, trade, investment, science and technology, education, national defence and security, climate change, and Vietnamese infrastructure upgardes. Two-way trade turnover has jumped from US$2 billion in 2001 to US$26 billion last year, she added. Phuong said Vietnam regards the US as the leading partner and expressed hope the two countries will continue collaborating on counterterrorism, transnational crime prevention, humanitarian aid efforts, and marine safety and security in the East Sea, thereby maintaining regional and international peace and stability. The HUFO capitalised on the occasion to present US Consul General in HCM City Le Thanh An with the “For Peace and Friendship among Nations” insignia, recognising his contributions to the Vietnam-US relationship and other social and charitable activities.VOV