Indian PM’s visit hoped to lift Vietnam-India ties to new height

Hanoi (VNA) – The upcoming Vietnam visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is of significant importance to the future growth of the Vietnam-India ties, stated Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh.

During the visit, the first made by an Indian PM in 15 years after the visit of PM Atal Bihari Vajpayee in 2001, the two sides are scheduled to review bilateral partnership over past years and map out orientations and measures to lift up the relations to a new height, said the diplomat.

Vietnam and India are celebrating the 10th anniversary of their Strategic Partnership in 2017, but they have shared a long-standing relationship initiated from trade and religious exchanges years ago and benefited from the personal relationship between late President Ho Chi Minh and PM Jawaharlan Nehru, he noted.

The two nations have also supported each other during their respective struggles for national liberation and defence as well as socio-economic development, he said.

Ambassador Thanh highlighted that bilateral strategic partnership has seen robust development in the past decade, with political trust reinforced by regular visits of senior leaders, including the India visits by President Truong Tan Sang in 2011, Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in 2013, and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung in 2014, and the visit to Vietnam by Indian President Pranab Mukharjee in 2014.

Bilateral cooperation mechanisms, including the Joint Committee, the political consultation and strategic dialogue between the two Foreign Ministries, and defence dialogues, have proved efficient in boosting all-round ties between the two countries as well as their close coordination at international forums, he said.

Meanwhile, economic partnership has immensely developed, with two-way trade growing to 5 billion USD in 2015 from only 1 billion USD in 2006, noted the diplomat, adding that the number of tourists rose six folds to 120,000 people in 2015 from 20,000 in 2007.

Indian investment in Vietnam increased three times to reach about 570 million USD in 2015 from 200 million USD in 2007, he said.

The two countries have also enjoyed effective affiliation in the fields of security and defence, especially in information exchange, personnel training and equipment provision. Their cooperation in science and technology, culture and education has also progressed, stated the ambassador.

The diplomat expressed his strong belief in the bright prospect and the comprehensive development of the Vietnam-India strategic partnership, basing on the well-built foundation as well as similarities in strategic interests, established political trust, and high economic potential.

To mark the 45 th anniversary of diplomatic ties and the 10th anniversary of their strategic partnership in 2017, the two sides have planned various activities, including high-level delegation exchanges, a Vietnam cultural week in India and a similar event in Vietnam , together with conferences and seminars highlighting bilateral relations, and trade and tourism fairs.

The organisation of celebrative activities will also be discussed during the Indian PM’s visit, revealed the ambassador.-VNA