(VNF) - The ninth Vietnam-India People’s Friendship Festival kicked off in Chandigarh city of India’s Punjab state on September 3^rd, with a string of activities to take place in several different locales.

This year’s festival is jointly organised by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the All India Peace and Solidarity Organization (AIPSO).

Attending the ceremony, on the Indian side, were Mayor of Chandigarh city Asha Kumari Jaswal; Bar Council of Punjab and Haryana Chairman Jaivir Yadav; AIPSO Secretary General, Politburo member and Head of the International Department of the Communist Party of India Pallab Sengupta along with numerous officials, the city’s people and the local press.

On the Vietnamese side, there were Bui Khac Son, VUFO Vice President; Ha Minh Hue, Vice President of Vietnam-India Friendship Association (VIFA), members of VUFO, VIFA, and representatives of Vietnamese enterprises as well as artists and performers of the Vietnam Military Music and Dance Theatre.

Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mayor of Chandigarh city Asha Kumari Jaswal expressed her delight when her city was chosen to host the festival, hoping that more exchanges between the two countries’ people will be organised in the time to come.

VUFO Vice President Bui Khac Son delivering his speech at the ninth Vietnam-India People’s Friendship Festival.

On behalf of Vietnamese delegation, VUFO Vice President Bui Khac Son, who is head of the delegation, appreciated the warm and cordial welcome of the AIPSO and many Indian friends.

The ninth Vietnam-India People’s Friendship Festival is a very meaningful activity in the two peoples’ friendship. The event is taking place in the context that the two countries are celebrating the 45^th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the first year since the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership, India’s 70^th Independence Day (August 15^th, 1947 – 2017) and Vietnam’s 72^nd National Day (September 2^nd, 1945 –2017), Son said.

The event also offered a chance for both sides to recall the tradition of solidarity, cooperation and mutual support, and discuss measures to effectively intensify the bilateral relations, thus helping realise signed agreements and lift their ties to a new height.

Traditional dance performance by Indian artists.

The official said he hoped the delegates would take the opportunity to review the solidarity, friendship and mutual support between Vietnamese and Indian peoples and propose measures to deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership in a more tangible fashion.

He highlighted the Vietnam-India relationship, which was founded by President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and fostered by generations of Vietnamese leaders and people, adding that the Party, State and people of Vietnam always keep in mind the precious support the communist parties and people of India have provided for Vietnam during the past struggle for national liberation and the current cause of national construction and development.

Performance by Vietnamese artists at the festival.

The VUFO Vice President expressed his belief that with a favourable development momentum and strong resolve on the part of the leaders and peoples of the two countries, the bilateral friendship and cooperation would yield greater achievements, bringing pragmatic interests to both nations, for the sake of peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in the region and the world at large.

At the opening ceremony, Vietnamese and Indian artists from entertained the delegates with a series of performances praising the two countries and their friendship./.

Translated by Minh Chau