Viet Nam Launches APEC Postage Stamp
Da Nang, Viet Nam, September 17, 2006 -- Viet Nam has launched a new postage stamp to commemorate their hosting of the 2006 APEC year.
The VND8,000 (US$0.50) stamp features the APEC Viet Nam logo and the theme for the year in Vietnamese that translates to "Towards a dynamic community for sustainable development and prosperity."
Viet Nam's First Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs and Chair of the 2006 Senior Officials' Meetings, LE CONG PHUNG, highlighted the value of postage stamps to cultural identity.
"During the course of building, preserving and developing a modern Vietnamese culture with deep-rooted national traits, Vietnamese stamps have played an important role in promoting the nation's cultural values and fine traditions, and creating the national pride about a land of heroism," Mr Phung said to APEC Senior Officials and Delegates at the official launch of the Stamp.
"Vietnamese stamps are a lasting spiritual asset of the society that nurtures the aesthetic feelings and ideals of every Vietnamese soul."
Mr Phung said the responsibility of hosting Viet Nam 2006 also brings with it the opportunity to showcase Vietnam's progress and importance as a destination for trade, investment and tourism.
"APEC 2006 Viet Nam is an international event of great importance for the 21 member economies.
"Hosting APEC 2006 is Viet Nam's most important contribution to the cooperation process in APEC."
Mr Phung also congratulated postal workers for their contribution to creating the new stamp and their commitment to the APEC Year.
"I'd like to highly commend the tremendous efforts and contributions made by the men and women working in the post and telecommunications service to national modernization and the building of a modern Vietnamese culture with deep-rooted national traits, especially in APEC 2006."
The launch of the stamp before Deputy Minister of Post & Telecommunications, Senior Officials representing APEC's 21 Member Economies and local government Officials took place between two days of Senior Officials' Meetings in Da Nang on September 16-17.