The opening ceremony of the event (Photo:congan.com.vn)
This is the first festival with many special cultural and artistic exchange activities of the two countries.
Speaking at the opening ceremony, Mr. Nguyen Thanh Phong, Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People's Committee, said that the two countries are far away geographically, but have many similarities in terms of culture, history and people.
In particular, 2017 marks the milestone of 25 years of friendly relationship, in which Vietnam and RoK have gained great achievements in almost all fields of economics, culture, trade and education and tourism.
Mr. Phong said that this event would be a special opportunity to introduce unique cultural exchange programs to local people and visitors, through which to send a message of peace, cooperation and friendship among the peoples in the world, as well as deepening the friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and RoK to a new level.
While Mr. Kim Kwan Yong, Head of Gyeongsangbuk-do, recalled the good fortune between Vietnam and Gyeongsangbuk-do province over 800 years ago when Mr. Lee Jong Chong, a son of prince Ly Long Tuong, descendant of Vietnam’s Ly Dynasty, once ruled the Andong region, now located in Gyeongsangbuk-do province and his descendants chose this place as their home.
For not a long time, the two sides have become major economic partners and are each others third largest trade partners, with many citizens of each country living and working in the other.
The festival will be a starting point to open a path of peace and cultural harmony, the path of mutual development and hope through the economy, as well as contribute to strengthen the cooperative relations of the two countries in many fields, including tourism, trade and investment.
The festival will end on December 3rd.
A variety of art programs, exhibitions and cultural, economic promotion programs, fashion shows and film screenings will take place in many places to meet the demand for entertainment and learning about culture and art./.