Festival creates close link between Vietnamese and Indian
The sixth Vietnam-India people’s friendship festival opened in Hanoi on October 21 with a series of cultural and tour events taking place in the capital city, Danang and Ho Chi Minh City.
Addressing the opening ceremony, Ha Minh Hue, Standing Deputy Chairman of the Vietnam Journalists’ Association and Vice President of the Vietnam – India Friendship Association (VIFA), said the festival aims to review important milestones in bilateral relations founded by late President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and fostered by generations of leaders and people.
During the six-day event, a talk themed “Vietnam – India cultural exchange” and music performances will be held in the central city of Danang.
The Indian delegation will offer incense at the Indira Gandhi monument and visit Tran Quoc pagoda in Hanoi, explore Champa culture in Danang and tour Cu Chi underground tunnels in HCM City.
Devi Prasad Tripathi, Vice President of the All-India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO), said the festival has inspired the Indian people to engage in improving bilateral relations in different ways.
Tripathi said AIPSO will do its best to provide support for millions of the Vietnamese Agent Orange/dioxin victims.
AIPSO General Secretary Pallab Sengupta presented Vu Xuan Hong, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO), with a certificate of merit in recognition of VUFO’s contributions to bolstering the friendship between the two nations.
VIFA Vice President Vu Quang Diem and AIPSO General Secretary Pallab Sengupta conveyed the message of the sixth Vietnam – India people’s friendship festival, which emphasised that the Vietnam – India strategic partnership is a common precious asset of the two nations.
Every Vietnamese and Indian citizen is responsible for treasuring, preserving and bringing into full play that valuable asset, the message said.