Hanoi (VNA) – Over the past years, cultural cooperation between Vietnam and theDemocratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK) have been maintained, contributingto the traditional friendship between the two countries, an official from theVietnamese Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism has said.

Vietnam has regularlysent art troupes to the Pyongyang Spring Arts Festival held by the DPRK, said NguyenPhuong Hoa, Vice Director of the ministry’s International CooperationDepartment.

Since its inceptionmore than 30 years ago, the international event has welcomed thousands of arttroupes from over 100 countries and territories.

Joining the festival,Vietnamese artists have contributed to promoting Vietnamese musicalquintessence to international friends. In its latest participation in 2016, theVietnamese troupe won a gold and four silver awards.

Hanoi is hosting thesecond DPRK-USA summit in coincidence with the 20th anniversary ofUNESCO’s recognition of the capital as the “City for Peace”.  Hanoi is the only Asian city to win the title.

Chairman of themunicipal People’s Committee Nguyen Duc Chung said local authorities and peoplehope that international friends will consider Hanoi their second homeland, andpledged to create favourable conditions for reporters to cover the summit.

Both Hanoi and thenorthern coastal province of Quang Ninh, which will welcome internationalreporters on this occasion, are willing to offer free tickets to journalists toenjoy art shows.-VNA