Moscow (VNA) – A special publication marking the 40th anniversary of the spaceflight by the Soviet Union’s cosmonaut Viktor Gorbatkoand Vietnamese pilot Pham Tuan made debut at an online event on October 21.

Thisbook was compiled as part of the plan on joint activities for 2019-2022 betweenthe Federal Archival Agency of Russia and the State Records and ArchivesDepartment of Vietnam.

Recallingthe historic flight 40 years ago, Deputy Director of the Federal ArchivalAgency of Russia Andrei Viktorovich Yurasov said the Soyuz-37 spacecraftcarried the two into space from the Baikonur cosmodrome on July 23, 1980, andthey made an eight-day journey in outer space before returning to the earth.

Yurasovaffirmed the special significance of the flight, describing this as a milestonein the friendship between Vietnam and the Soviet Union in the past and Russiaat present.

Withthe release of this special publication, Russian and Vietnamese readers will beprovided with much interesting information about this flight, including manydetails unveiled for the first time.

Alsospeaking at the event in Moscow, Vietnamese Minister Counsellor Nguyen QuynhMai said the success of the historic flight is a symbol of the friendship andcomprehensive cooperation between Vietnam and the Soviet Union, and now Russia.

Themutual assistance in the trip organisation formed the foundation for the researchand application of space technology in Vietnam, she said, voicing her beliefthat bilateral space cooperation for peaceful purposes will continue developingto contribute to the Vietnam-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership.

Speakingonline from Hanoi, Director of the State Records and Archives Department ofVietnam Dang Thanh Tung expressed his delight at the publication amid the 70th founding anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties, adding that hisside will popularise this book so that Vietnamese readers can access importantinformation about this historic flight.

Vietnamtook part in the Interkosmos programme in 1979. The same year, after anastronaut candidate selection programme, Vietnamese pilots Tuan and Bui ThanhLiem were chosen and sent to the Yuri Gagarin cosmonaut training centre.

Afterfinishing the training course, Tuan was selected for the main crew while Liemserved as a backup. Tuan and Viktor Gorbatko flew into space and stayed at theInternational Space Station to do some research./.