Ninth Vietnam-India friendship festival opens in Indian city

​New Delhi (VNA) – The ninth Vietnam-India People’s Friendship Festival kicked off in Chandigarh city, Punjab state of India, on September 3.

The event, jointly held by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation, takes place in the context that the two countries are celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the first year since the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership, India’s 70th Independence Day and Vietnam’s 72nd National Day.

Mayor of Chandigarh city Asha Kumari Jaswal expressed her delight when her city was chosen to host the festival, hoping that more exchanges between the two countries’ people will be organised in the time to come.

VUFO Vice President Bui Khac Son said the event offered a chance for both sides to recall the tradition of solidarity, cooperation and mutual support, and discuss measures to effectively intensify the bilateral relations, thus helping realise signed agreements and lift their ties to a new height.

He affirmed the Vietnamese people always bear in mind the assistance the Indian people gave to their struggles against aggressors.

He showed his belief that with joint efforts from both countries, their comprehensive strategic partnership will surely reap more and greater fruits so as to meet their people’s interests, and for peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in the region and the world.

At the opening ceremony, Vietnamese and Indian artists entertained the audience with a series of performances praising the two countries and their friendship.

Earlier the same day, the Vietnamese delegation had a seminar with enterprises in Chandigarh city, during which they exchanged views on cooperation potential and opportunities in the fields of trade, infrastructure, tourism, education and training and culture.-VNA