Hue festival 2000 - a perfect image of Vietnam-France cooperation HANOI - French Ambassador to Vietnam, Serge Degallaix, says that the Hue Festival 2000 shows a strong and qualitative development in Vietnam-France cultural co-operation. He told VOVNews during an interview on preparations for the 12-day Festival, which will kick off in the Imperial City on Saturday evening. The French ambassador says that the festival will be a big cultural event involving famous art troupes from Vietnam and France. It is also an opportunity for France to demonstrate its knowledge and skills in organizing festivals at an international level. France is a country of festivities and has a wealth of festival experiences, and it wants to share this experience with Vietnam. Mr. Degallaix says the Hue Festival 2000 is an excellent promotion for the tourism program "Vietnam- A Destination of the New Millenium" initiated by the Vietnam Tourism Administration. The French ambassador says that Hue Festival 2000 is one of France’s major activities in the world this year. France has contributed about US$1 million and sent specialists to Hue to facilitate the festival. As a co-organizer, Mr. Degallaix told VOV News, "Speaking of Hue, we shall immediately mention the City’s characteristics. They include Hue’s living and culinary skills, the poetic atmosphere of the Huong River and historical relics of an ancient capital with its royal music, royal dance and mausoleums. The festival will provide an opportunity for Hue to realize its wish for modernization." A seasoned expert on festivals, Jean Blaise, is the special envoy of the French Government in charge of the festival this time. He is assisted by an experienced French technical manager. France has helped Hue improve the whole electricity supply network. On April 15, French TV5 will broadcast live coverage of the Festival events. Millions of TV5 audiences will learn more about Hue and Vietnam in general. French ambassador, Serge Degallaix, asserts, "Hue Festival 2000 symbolizes the Vietnam-France co-operation. The co-operation is made through exchanges of experience and knowledge as well as personnel training. It is a strong and qualitative development in Vietnam-France multifaceted co-operation. It is also an opportunity to show the world the fine and developing relationship between Vietnam and France. I would like to add that Hue Festival 2000 is a long-term and sustainable festival as the perfect image of Vietnamese-French co-operation." Hue Festival 2000 will make Hue a cultural and tourism center and lay the foundation for a future festival city. Hue will realize its dream, French Ambassador Serge Degallaix said in conclusion. Voice of Vietnam - April 8, 2000.