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2010-04-21: Soweto dancers to perform in Vietnam   
  
A GROUP of young Diski dancers from Soweto will travel to Vietnam this weekend to perform in Freedom Day celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City and promote the 2010 Soccer World Cup.

The Diski Dance Group consists of 15 young performers, accompanied by two adults, is part of a programme of cultural exchanges between the City of Johannesburg and the economic capital of Vietnam. This follows a "twinning memorandum" signed by the Executive Mayor, Clr Amos Masondo and Mr Le Hoang Quan, the Chairman of the People's Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on 10 November 2009.

Mayor Masondo led a delegation from Johannesburg to Vietnam, India and Russia to promote trade and investment and facilitate cultural exchanges. Following his visit South Africa also opened an honorary consulate in the Vietnamese city. These two new relationships have helped to expand bilateral relations on the diplomatic, economic and cultural fronts.

The Diski Dance Group leaves for Vietnam on Friday 23 April and will perform at national celebrations in Ho Chi Minh City on 26 April and the following day in the capital, Hanoi.

The objective of the visit is to showcase South Africa's rich and vibrant culture and the talents of the country's youth. They will also be promoting Johannesburg as an important host city of the FIFA2010. The Diski Dance Group will return to South Africa on 1 May 2010. 
Johannesburg and Ho Chi Minh are the "economic hubs" of South Africa and Vietnam respectively. 

Aside from the fact that Johannesburg expects to see increased economic and trade promotion and cooperation in the future, the City also want to expand its focus on other areas of bilateral cooperation such as:  

Increased tourism, 
Cultural and eco-tourism;  
Exchange of information on the preservation of heritage sites;  
Budget tour packages and tour guide training exchange programmes;  
Exchange of skills development. 
The appointment of Ms Do Thi Kim Lien, as the South African Honorary Consul in Ho Chi Minh City will, in her words, provide "a spiritual home for all South African residing there". Vietnamese living in HCM City will, in turn, be provided with consular services such as visa applications, information sessions about South Africa and other activities aimed at attracting more interest from Vietnamese citizens and corporates to do business in South Africa.


Issued by:
Joburg Public Liaison
Communication Department
City of Johannesburg 

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