Vietnam, India fortify traditional friendship, multifaceted cooperation

General Secretary of the VFF Central Committee Nguyen Thi Thu Ha and head of the Communist Party of India (Marxist)’s committee for external affairs Mariam Alexander Baby (Photo: VNA)

During their stay, the delegation had meetings and working sessions with head of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPIM)’s committee for external affairs Mariam Alexander Baby, Director of the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Rajeev Kumar, Politburo member of the Communist Party of India R. Venkaiah, and met with the Vietnamese community in the host nation and the staff of the Vietnamese Embassy there.

At the event, Ha highlighted the sound Vietnam – India relationship, the foundation of which was laid by President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nerhu, adding it has been nurtured by generations of leaders and people of the two nations. India is currently one of the important comprehensive strategic partners in Vietnam’s foreign policy.

She hailed the Indian Government for continuing to consider Vietnam a significant pillar in its Act East policy, stating that the state visit to the country by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh from July 30 to August 1 met the expectations of both sides and calling on the two countries to work closely to bring into full play the outcomes of the trip and the action programme to implement the Vietnam – India comprehensive strategic partnership for the 2024-2028 period.

She took the occasion to thank the Indian Government for providing relief goods worth 1 million USD in support for Typhoon Yagi-hit residents, which, she said, demonstrated the close relations between the two countries.

Touching on the trade, economic and investment cooperation, Ha expressed her belief that Vietnam and India could increase their two-way trade in the coming time as outlined by leaders of the two countries. She said Vietnam welcomes Indian investments in such strategic areas as oil and gas exploration in the East Sea, seaport development, renewable energy and emerging sectors.

She highlighted that the Vietnamese Party, State, and the VFF consistently prioritise cultural exchange to create optimal conditions for mass organisations to promote their role and advantages in the cultural work. She said she hopes that that the Indian Government, parties, and organisations will continue to enhance their role in connecting Indian businesses with their Vietnamese partners to make the bilateral cultural exchanges more intensive, substantive and effective.

She proposed that both sides consider signing a new agreement between their aviation authorities soon to increase direct flight frequencies connecting major cities.

She also thanked the Indian side for helping Vietnam to restore and preserve the My Son Sanctuary, a world cultural heritage site in Quang Nam province over the past years, wishing to receive further assistance in the area in the time to come.

Hailing India’s initiative regarding the International Yoga Day, Ha said Vietnam supports and facilitate the organisation of activities to popularise Indian culture in the nation, and expressed her hope that the two countries will step up cooperation in Buddhist and spiritual tourism by developing attractive offerings to lure visitors from both nations.

The leaders of the CPIM, CPI and ICCR affirmed that India always prioritises developing the relations with Vietnam, stressing the two countries should capitalise on the existing potential to deepen the bilateral relationship.

At the meeting with the Vietnamese community in India (Photo: VNA)

Meeting with the Vietnamese community, Ha affirmed that the overseas Vietnamese is an inseparable part of the nation and briefed them on recent changes in the homeland’s policies, including the Land Law, the Housing Law and the Real Estate Business Law./.