Hanoi (VNA) – The festival is co-organised by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations, the Vietnam-India Friendship Association, and the All-India Peace and Solidarity Organisation (AIPSO).

Addressing the event, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem said the festival helps further strengthen the friendship between the Vietnamese and Indian nations whose foundation was co-laid by the late President Ho Chi Minh and the late Prime Minister Nehru.

He thanked the Indian people for their consistent valuable solidarity and support to Vietnam and said the two countries’ relationship has reached new heights following the establishment of a strategic partnership formation that was announced during Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit to India last year.

The Vietnamese leader particularly noted progress in bilateral economic ties, with two-way trade value to double the 2007 figure to reach 3 billion USD this year.

“As a faithful friend, Vietnam wants to further cement its strategic partnership with India ,” Deputy PM Khiem said.

The head of the Indian delegation to the festival, AIPSO General Secretary Pallab Sengupta said the friendship between the two nations will continue to be solidified and developed on the back of Vietnam ’s fast developing economy.

Indian Foreign Minister Pranab Mukherjee sent a message to the festival, emphasising “the people-to-people ties constitute an important part in the India-Vietnam relationship”.

He affirmed that Vietnam remains India’s key partner in ASEAN and its “Orient-looking policy” and pledged to share development experiences with the Southeast Asian country through various assistance programmes.

Earlier the same day, the Indian guests paid tribute to the late President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum and visited his office and residency.

Within the framework of the festival, Vietnamese and Indian participants formed eight groups to work with the Vietnam National Assembly, the Ho Chi Minh National Political-Administrative Academy, the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry, the Water Resources University, and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee, and other agencies on issues of concern.

As scheduled, the Indian delegation will stay in Ho Chi Minh City on Aug. 13-14 where they will visit the War Remnants Museum and Cu Chi tunnels, meet with representatives of the business circles from India and Vietnam, and attend the 61 st anniversary of Indian’s National Day.