Addressing the opening ceremony, Standing Deputy Chairman of theVietnam Journalists’ Association and Vice President of the Vietnam –India Friendship Association (VIFA) Ha Minh Hue said the festivalenables the two people to review important milestones in bilateralrelations founded by late President Ho Chi Minh and Prime MinisterJawaharlal Nehru and fostered by generations of leaders and people.
During the event, a talk themed “Vietnam – India cultural exchange”and music performances will take place in the central city of Da Nang.
The Indian delegation will offer incense at Indira Gandhimonument and visit Tran Quoc pagoda in Hanoi, explore Champa culture inDa Nang and tour Cu Chi underground tunnels in HCM City.
Bothsides will also put forward steps to bolster ties between socialorganisations in particular, thereby realising the agreements reached bythe two nations’ leaders.
Vice President of the All-IndiaPeace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO) Devi Prasad Tripathi said thefestival has lured a large number of Indian people into cementingbilateral relations in different ways.
Tripathi said AIPSO will do its best to satisfy the growing demand of the two people.
He also vowed to stand by millions of the Vietnamese Agent Orange/dioxin victims.
AIPSO General Secretary Pallab Sengupta presented President of theVietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Vu Xuan Hong with acertificate of merit in recognition of VUFO’s contributions tobolstering the friendship between the two peoples.
At theevent, VIFA Vice President Vu Quang Diem and AIPSO General SecretaryPallab Sengupta conveyed the message of the sixth Vietnam – Indiapeople’s friendship festival, which emphasised that the Vietnam – Indiastrategic partnership is a common precious asset of the two nations.
Each Vietnamese and Indian citizen is responsible for treasuring,preserving and bringing into full play that valuable asset, the messagesaid, voicing hopes that the festival will successfully lay down a firmfoundation to lift the Vietnam – India strategic partnership to newheights in the future.-VNA