(VOVworld) – Construction of the Vietnam-China Friendship Palace began in Hanoi on Tuesday. Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Phuong Nga, Chinese ambassador to Vietnam Kong Xuan You, and Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Vu Xuan Hong attended the ground-breaking ceremony. This is one of the biggest friendship cooperation projects between the two countries in recent years.

In his address, Chairman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations Vu Xuan Hong stressed the cultural similarities, helping to strengthen relations between the people of the two countries. He said that once finished the palace will be a symbol of the friendship and good relations between Vietnam and China in the new era as well as a venue for cultural exchanges and a destination for Chinese tourists when they visit Hanoi. Chinese ambassador to Vietnam Kong Xuan You said: “The people contribute significantly to the friendship between the two countries. Construction of the palace meets the demand for people-to-people exchanges, which will foster bilateral ties.”

Financed by Chinese non-refundable aid, the palace is expected to be completed in 20 months over an area of 3.3 hectares.