The week-long exhibition was jointly held by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) and China's Xinhua News Agency (XNA).

More than 200 pictures on show are a vivid panorama depicting traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between the two countries, including ties between VNA and XNA during more than a half century, said VNA Deputy General Director Ha Minh Hue at the opening ceremony.

The exhibition, which received due concerns and support from both countries’ leaders and people, will leave deep impression on people of each country, he added.

For his part, Xinhua’s Vice General Director Lu Wei affirmed that XNA will continue to boost cooperation with VNA and other Vietnamese mass media agencies and governmental offices in terms of information, human resources, information technology and professional improvement to make contributions to developing Vietnam-China ties.

XNA will bring into full play its position as a national and world news agency to provide information objectively and truly on Vietnam’s achievements during the renewal process to its people and the world as a whole, he said.

Vietnamese Ambassador to China Nguyen Van Tho congratulated the organisation of the exhibition, as part of activities to welcome the Vietnam-China friendship year 2010.

People of the two nations will keep in their mind great services of late Presidents Ho Chi Minh and Mao Zedong in fostering bilateral ties, he said.

The Vietnamese people have always memorised the assistance of the Chinese people during the former struggle for the national independence and socialism construction, he added.

The ambassador also affirmed that information provided by VNA is the official voice of the Vietnamese Party and Government, making an extremely important contribution to building, consolidating and developing the traditional and comprehensive relations between the two neighbouring countries.