Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh (L) shakes hands with Indian Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj (Photo: VNA) At their talks in New Delhi on July 4 as part of Minh’svisit from July 3-5, the two sides shared their delight at the growing ties sinceVietnam and India set up diplomatic ties in 1972, with sound politicalrelations and regular exchanges of delegations through all channels.
The establishment of strategic partnership in 2007 andcomprehensive strategic partnership in 2016 showed strong political trust formedby the two countries, creating an important framework for them to bolstercollaboration across politics-diplomacy, defence-security, economy-trade,science-technology, culture and education, they said.
During the talks, the two sides also agreed on variousmeasures to further foster bilateral cooperation in different fields.
In the economic sphere, Minh and Sushma Swarajstressed the need to take stronger and more effective measures to turn Vietnamand India into important partners.
They concurred that the Vietnam-India subcommittee fortrade cooperation should convene a meeting soon to seek ways to increasetwo-way trade to 15 billion USD in 2020, including providing information andsupport for businesses, creating favourable conditions for the entry ofrespective goods, and strengthening connections in all fields.
They also agreed to beef up affiliation within theframework of the ASEAN-India free trade agreement, and foster collaborationwith regional countries in speeding up and finalizing the RegionalComprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP).
Minh noted that Indian investment in Vietnam hasreached 722 million USD, ranking 26th among 119 countries andterritories investing in Vietnam, expressing his hope that India will becomeone of the leading investors in Vietnam soon.
Vietnam wishes for increased engagement of its businessesin India’s initiatives, including the “Make in India”, “Digital India”, and “SkillIndia”, he stated.
Both sides agreed to bolster cooperation in promisingareas, such as software development, IT, banking-finance, logistics, mechanic manufacturing,garment and textile, energy and renewable energy, and pharmaceuticals.
They affirmed interests in expanding cooperation intraining and scientific research, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges.
The Indian side pledged to continue providing scholarships for Vietnam and helpVietnam implement projects to restore and preserve Cham towers in My Son.
They also highlighted the need to maintain partnershipin defence-security with India continuing its training and technical supportprogrammes as well as soft loan provision and cooperation in coping withnon-traditional security challenges.
Minh and Sushma Swaraj shared views on internationalregional issues of shared concern. They vowed to work closely at internationaland regional forums to which both countries are members.
As the coordinating country for the ASEAN-Indiarelations in 2015-2018, Vietnam supports India to strengthen comprehensivecooperation and closer connectivity with the bloc and make positivecontributions as a powerful country in Asia, stated Minh.
Meanwhile, Sushma Swaraj reaffirmed India’s commitmentto strongly upholding the “Act East Policy”, which places ASEAN in general andVietnam in particular as a major focus.
They reiterated cooperation in maintaining peace,stability as well as overflight and maritime safety and security in the Asia-Pacificregion and the world.
They emphasised the principle of respecting internationallaw and settling disputes through peaceful measures in conformity withinternational law, the United Nations Charter and the 1982 UN Convention on theLaw of the Sea (UNCLOS).
Following the talks, Minh and Sushma Swaraj signed anAction Programme for the implementation of the comprehensive strategicpartnership in 2017-2020.
The programme will orientate the two countries’ across-the-board cooperation.
On the day, Minhpaid a courtesy visit to Vice President and Chairman of the Senate Hamid Ansariand received Minister of Defence cum Minister of Finance
Arun Jaitley.
Ansari spoke highly of the warm friendship and the comprehensive strategicpartnership between India and Vietnam and expressed his belief that Minh’svisit will help to deploy the partnership practically.
He affirmed thatthe parliament and people of India have always supported the bilateral ties andwished that the two countries’ ministries and sectors will have morediscussions and work together in stepping up cooperative fields in acomprehensive and intensive fashion that fully tap the respective countries’potential and advantages.
For his part,Minh asserted that Vietnam has always treasured the time-honoured friendshipwith India as well as the country’s support for Vietnam’s past struggle fornational independence and current nation-building efforts.
He hoped that the two countries will work to deepen the relations and that theVietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs will work with the Indian ministries andsectors to boost cooperation across politics, economics-trade,defence-security, culture-education, science-technology, and other promisingfields.
On the day, Minh received Vietnam’s honorary consul in Nepal Rajesh KaziShrestha and several Nepalese businesspeople.
The honoraryconsul expressed his honor to undertake the task of promoting people-to-peopleexchanges, connecting businesses and protecting Vietnamese citizens in Nepalwhen Vietnam has yet to officially open a representative office in the country.
Minh said he isglad to see positive developments in the relations between Vietnam and Nepal,highly valuing the efforts and contributions of the honorary consul to the tiesand suggesting him do more for it.-VNA
