A get-together was held in Hanoi on July 15 to welcome delegates to the third Vietnam - Laos People Friendship Festival, which is underway in the capital city, and the northern provinces of Tuyen Quang and Ninh Binh from now until July 21.

The function was jointly organised by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-Laos Friendship Association.

Addressing the event, VUFO President Vu Xuan Hong said the festival is one of major activities to celebrate the Vietnam - Laos Solidarity and Friendship Year 2012.

It offers the two peoples a chance to share experience in carrying out friendship activities.

He said he hopes the delegates from both countries will make active contributions to the success of the festival, meeting the expectations of the two Parties, States and peoples.

Phankham Viphavanh, a Politburo member of the Lao People’s Revolutionary Party and Lao Minister of Education and Sports cum President of the Laos – Vietnam Friendship Association said the festival is a venue to review bilateral traditional ties fostered by generations of Parties and State leaders and people of the two countries.

It is also an opportunity to discuss how to boost bilateral cooperation with a view to further deepening the Laos – Vietnam, Vietnam – Laos special solidarity, he said.-VNA