MOSCOW – The 2024 Vietnamese Culture Days in Russia programme has opened in Moscow, with a wide range of activities being held throughout this week.

An art performance at the opening ceremony. VNA/VNS Photo

Attending the opening ceremony were Chief Justice of the Supreme People's Court Nguyễn Hòa Bình, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Nguyễn Văn Hùng, Russian Culture Minister Olga Lyubimova, First Deputy Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly Andrey Yatskin, and Vietnamese Ambassador to Russia Đặng Minh Khôi.

Speaker of the Federation Council of the Federal Assembly Valentina Matvienko also sent a letter of greetings, expressing the special interest of Russian leaders in the event, as well as in developing and strengthening the traditional friendship and relations between Russia and Việt Nam.

In his opening remarks, Minister Hùng stressed that the programme, taking place after the state visit to Việt Nam by Russian President Vladimir Putin from June 19-20, aims to implement the joint statement on further deepening the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, towards the 75th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties in 2025.

Over the recent years, cultural, sports and tourism cooperation between the two countries has become more effective and achieved great progress, and people-to-people exchanges increasingly strengthened. This is an invaluable asset of the two people, and a fruit of the long journey that the two countries and their peoples have built together, he added.

Hùng said that bilateral cultural cooperation will go deeper and more specifically through new areas of cooperation such as training cultural officials and artists.

Within the framework of the programme, there will be a photo exhibition, a Vietnamese film screening, and tourism promotion events in Moscow and St. Petersburg. – VNA/VNS