The event will run from July 16-23 with the aim of creating opportunities for strengthening friendship and cooperation between the two cities.

A reporter from Radio the Voice of Vietnam interviewed Igor Khovaev, minister-counsellor at the Russian Embassy in Hanoi about the event.

VOV: As we know, Hanoi Days in Moscow and Moscow Days in Hanoi have been organised alternatively. What do you think about these events?

Mr Igor Khovaev: At first, I want to say that Moscow and Hanoi have long established their friendship and cooperation. This year’s Hanoi Days in Moscow are in response to the Moscow Days in Hanoi in December 2005.

VOV: How have the Moscow authorities prepared for the event?

Mr Igor Khovaev: As far as I know, they have prepared well for the event. Hanoi Days in Moscow will provide opportunities for Moscow people to learn more about the daily lives of Hanoians, as well as developments in the cultural, economic, and educational areas. There is much hope that businesses from both cities will find potential counterparts.

The highlights of the event will include official meetings between leaders of Hanoi and Moscow as well as between businesses of the two cities.

Hanoi and Moscow have great potential for cooperation. So far, many projects including those to build the Hanoi Trade Centre in Moscow and the Moscow Trade Centre in Hanoi have got underway. Both sides expect to meet and fix dates for the inauguration of the two centres in the near future.

All the above-mentioned activities are aimed at boosting cooperative ties between Hanoi and Moscow. I think the two cities must take the lead in developing these ties so that the strategic partnership between Vietnam and Russia will be further strengthened. In my opinion, both Hanoi and Moscow have successfully fulfilled their missions.

VOV: What do you think about Vietnam, especially Hanoi, at a time when it is preparing to celebrate its 1000^th anniversary of Thang Long-Hanoi?

Mr Khovaev: I have been staying in Vietnam for a long time. I first arrived in the summer of 1985 when I was a third-year student at the Moscow State Institute of International Relations. I was on a study tour then. After that I have come back to Vietnam a few times. I worked as consul general in Vung Tau City and assumed the post of minister counselor at the Russian Embassy in Vietnam two years ago.

During my first visit to Vietnam I knew that your country was facing a number of difficulties. It broke my heart to see Vietnamese people living in very difficult circumstances as the country had just been through the fierce war. At that time I believed that the Vietnamese people, who were so heroic and industrious, then would deserve to have a better life.

Now I am very happy to see that Vietnam has changed dramatically over the past 20 years. They have made such great achievements not by chance or by any magic but only with their talented hands and great love of life and labour.

I love Hanoi, especially the old quarter which preserves the traditional culture of the capital and I believe that the traditional beauty will last forever as it contains the cultural identity of Vietnam. Russia looks forwards to Hanoi’s celebration its 1,000^th anniversary, which will affirm the role and position of the capital city in the country’s history. Russia’s participation in the event will be discussed during the Hanoi Days in Moscow.

VOV: On which areas will the two cities have to focus to help the younger generations gain a better understanding of the traditional relationship between the two countries?

Mr Khovaev: The two capitals have great potential for co-operation, especially in economics and trade. Leaders of the two capitals should create favourable conditions for investors to meet and do business. This is an important topic during the Hanoi Days in Moscow.

I think both sides should also strengthen co-operation in culture and education and promote exchanges between young people of Hanoi and Moscow. Currently, young people do not fully understand happenings in both countries, therefore, the older generation should help them foster traditional relationship between the two countries.

VOV: Thank you very much.