Many important results have been reached at the 15th meeting of theVietnam–India Joint Commission, said Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in arecent interview with the Vietnam News Agency.
Atthe meeting, which took place in India on July 11, India affirmedthat it will continue to treasure political ties and maintain thetraditional friendly relationship between the two countries, FM Minhsaid.
The two sides pledged to regularly exchangedelegations of all levels, further bring into play the role of the jointcommission and strengthen the political consultation and strategicdialogue mechanism.
The two sides have put forwardorientations and concrete measures, aimed to make bilateral economiccooperation ties more practical and efficient, Minh said, adding that anaction programme for the 2013-2015 period was also inked.
A joint sub-committee on trade has been established with the purpose of raising two-way trade to 7 billion USD by 2015.
India pledged to consider providing more preferential credit forVietnam and encourage its businesses to invest in the Southeast Asiancountry, especially in the fields of oil and gas exploitation, energy,high-technology, biotechnology and agriculture.
The two countries held that defence cooperation, experience exchanges and officer training will be expanded.
They also discussed in-depth measures to boost cooperation ineducation and training, agriculture, science and technology, informationand telecommunications, cultural exchanges, aviation and tourism.
At the same time, the two sides vowed to continue their coordination at international and regional forums.
Minister Minh stated that Vietnam welcomes India’s “Look East”policy and hopes to become a bridge connecting India with regionalcountries, especially ASEAN nations.
Vietnamalso welcomes and encourages Indian businesses to invest in sectorsVietnam needs, such as infrastructure development, high-tech zones,oil and gas, and electricity.
He noted that Indiaboasts an advance education and a rapid development ofscience-technology, and Vietnam hopes to receive assistance fromIndia in these fields on its path to industrialisation andmodernization. These sectors will also be the key pillars in the twocountries’ strategic partnership and a focus of Vietnam-Indiacooperation in the years to come, said FM Minh.
Inview of such outcomes, it is completely possible to believe in thebright future of the traditional friendship and strategic partnershipbetween the two countries, he stressed.-VNA