The Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association and the Centre for Russian Science and Culture held a ceremony in Hanoi on July 23 to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Vietnam-Russia friendship space-flight mission.

Vietnamese cosmonaut Pham Tuan and Russian cosmonaut Victor Gorbatko, who undertook the mission 30 years ago, were present at the ceremony.

Addressing the ceremony, Tran Xuan Thu, Vice Chairman of the Vietnam-Russia Friendship Association, described the July 23-31, 1980 space-flight mission by cosmonauts Pham Tuan and Victor Gorbatko as an historical event to the Vietnamese people and serving as a milestone in the development of the traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and strategic partnership between Vietnam and the Soviet Union (now Russia and the SNG).

He stressed that Vietnam would never forget the wholehearted and effective assistance from people of the former Soviet Union, as well as of Russia , to Vietnam during the past 60 years.

The two cosmonauts recalled the time they shared together 30 years ago.

Gorbatko expressed his joy at revisiting Vietnam – his second homeland – and witnessing Vietnam ’s achievements in all fields.

He expressed his hope that together with socio-economic development, Vietnam would accelerate investment in research and development of space aviation./.