(VOVworld) - A solidarity and friendship festival opened in Paris over the weekend with the participation of 50 French organizations, and Vietnamese residents in France to mark President Ho Chi Minh’s 122nd birthday anniversary. Speaking at the opening ceremony, Choisy-le-Roi mayor, Daniel Davisse, thanked the Vietnamese Embassy for choosing his city to organize the festival, which, he said, will help strengthen cooperation between his city and Vietnam.  

The festival attracts 50 French organizations and Vietnamese residents in France

Ambassador Duong Chi Dung said the event offered a good chance for the two countries to boost solidarity, especially as the two countries will celebrate their 40^th anniversary of bilateral ties next year. He said: "Vietnam has entered a new development period. We believe that solidarity activities between Vietnam and international friends will open a broader vision in line with the country’s socio-economic development priorities from now until 2020."

On this occasion, 3 seminars opened featuring topics including: “Humanity: united for Agent Orange victims”, “Health”, and “Sustainable Development: enhancing education and training, protecting the environment”. After the discussions, representatives of 50 French organizations signed in a letter opposing the International Olympic Committee’s decision to allow US chemical company Dow Chimical that produced pesticides used in Vietnam during the war, to sponsor the 2012 Olympics in London, UK as well as other Olympics in the future.