Moscow, Hanoi preparing for holding bilateral Cross Years, Russia’s envoy says
The events during the Cross Year will encompass both cultural and other areas of cooperation, including politics, economy, security, science, healthcare, tourism and interregional ties
HANOI, December 27. /TASS/. Moscow and Hanoi are actively preparing to hold the Cross Year of Russia in Vietnam and the Cross Year of Vietnam in Russia for the first time in the history of bilateral ties, Russia’s Ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam Konstantin Vnukov told TASS on Thursday.
"The upcoming year of 2019 will be special for Russian-Vietnamese relations as this will be for the first time in the history of bilateral ties - both during the Soviet and the modern period - when it will be simultaneously the Year of Russia in Vietnam and the Year of Vietnam in Russia," Vnukov said.
The events during the Cross Year will encompass both cultural and other areas of cooperation, including politics, economy, security, science, healthcare, tourism and interregional ties, the diplomat stressed.
Russian regions have shown great interest in participation in the Cross Year program, including those which have been cooperating with Vietnam and those which have started doing this recently, he noted.
The program of the Cross Year will include visits at the highest level, joint business forums, conferences, expositions and the weeks of culture and cinema. Besides, a whole series of events will be devoted to promoting the Russian and Vietnamese languages, enhancing contacts between mass media, youth and student exchanges. "This will be a truly all-encompassing and strategic event, like the level and character of our relations," the ambassador stressed.
The idea to hold the Cross Year in 2019 timed for the 25th anniversary of signing the key Treaty on Principles of Friendly Relations is a personal initative of the two countries’ leaders. This October, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on creating an organizing committee led by Deputy Prime Minister Maxim Akimov. A similar body was set up in Vietnam
"I’m sure that this attention to the Cross Year of the top leadership both in Russia and Vietnam will help ensure exact work of all state agencies and regions and hold it at the highest level," the diplomat said.