Hanoi (VNA) – Over the past years, cultural cooperation between Vietnam and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have been maintained, contributing to the traditional friendship between the two countries, an official from the Vietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has said.

Vietnam has regularly sent art troupes to the Pyongyang Spring Arts Festival held by the DPRK, said Nguyen Phuong Hoa, Vice Director of the ministry’s International Cooperation Department.

Since its inception more than 30 years ago, the international event has welcomed thousands of art troupes from over 100 countries and territories.

Joining the festival, Vietnamese artists have contributed to promoting Vietnamese musical quintessence to international friends. In its latest participation in 2016, the Vietnamese troupe won a gold and four silver awards.

Hanoi is hosting the second DPRK-USA summit in coincidence with the 20th anniversary of UNESCO’s recognition of the capital as the “City for Peace”.  Hanoi is the only Asian city to win the title.

Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said local authorities and people hope that international friends will consider Hanoi their second homeland, and pledged to create favourable conditions for reporters to cover the summit.

Both Hanoi and the northern coastal province of Quang Ninh, which will welcome international reporters on this occasion, are willing to offer free tickets to journalists to enjoy art shows.-VNA

VNA