A ceremony was held on November 21 to hand over the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace after its period of maintenance and warranty.

The Vietnam-China Friendship Palace. (Photo: VNF)

This palace is a special project, holding political and diplomatic significance as a gift from the Chinese Party, State, Government, and people for Vietnam.

Addressing the ceremony, Vice President in-charge and Secretary General of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Don Tuan Phong said that the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace is a particularly important cooperation project, with its construction carried out by China and accompanying facilities contributed by Vietnam.

He noted that its building was approved by two countries' Prime Ministers Phan Van Khai and Wen Jiabao in 2004. The construction was kick started in March 2015, with total cost of construction is estimated at VND 800 billion, including non-refundable aid from the Chinese Government and the Vietnam government’s corresponding capital.

VUFO Vice President in-charge and Secretary Don Tuan Phong speaks at the event.

On November 12, 2017, the palace was inaugurated in the presence of Vietnamese National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Chinese Party General Secretary and President Xi Jinping.

It is a venue for political, diplomatic, and cultural events and also a destination for those who want to explore the land, people, and culture of the two countries, Phong added.

A representative of the Chinese contractor – Yunnan Construction Engineering Group Co. Ltd – said that after a year of trial operations, the palace has met all its requirements. He expressed his hope that it will become.

Expressing his thanks to VUFO, the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam, the Project Management Board, he expressed his hope that the Vietnam – China Friendship Palace would become an everlasting symbol of the bilateral friendship.

At the handover signing ceremony.

At the ceremony, representatives of 5 units participated in the construction signed the handover of the Vietnam – China Friendship Palace under the witness of VUFO Vice President Don Tuan Phong and Charge d'affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Vietnam Yin Haihong.

On this occasion, three building companies of China were presented with certificates of merit by the VUFO presidium, while eight construction experts received the “For peace and friendship between nations” insignia in recognition of their efforts during the construction of the palace.

VUFO Vice President Don Tuan Phong presents insignias to construction experts.

The 14,000-m² Vietnam – China Friendship Palace, covering an area of 3.3 hectare, is located at No.188, Le Quang Dao Str., Nam Tu Liem Dist., Ha Noi city.

The Palace is designed with a round shape in the outside and a square in the inside, which replicate the image of a lotus flower.

The round shape symbolizes the harmony, solidarity and fulfillment, expressing the aspiration for peace and friendship of the two countries, while the lotus is the national flower of Vietnam.

The Palace consists of three zones A, B, C. The A zone is located at the central of the Palace. It is an auditorium which includes a stage, backstage, a hall which can accomodate up to 1,500 seats, exhibition room and supporting rooom.

The B zone is located on the west side of the Palace, with a multi-function rooom, conference room, working offices.

The C zone is located on the east side of the Palace, including VIP room, Chinese tea room, Chinese traditional medicines room, reading room and other functional rooms./.

Translated by Chau Pham