HCM City, India strengthen solidarity, friendship

The 73rd anniversary of India’s Independence Day (August 15) was marked in a ceremony in Ho Chi Minh City on August 17.
HCM City, India strengthen solidarity, friendship ảnh 1President of the Vietnam-India Friendship Association of HCM City Huynh Thanh Lap (L) hands over a souvenir to Sri Pallab Sengupta, General Secretary of the All India Peace and Solidarity Organisation at the event (Photo: VNA)
HCM City (VNA) – The 73rdanniversary of India’s Independence Day (August 15) was marked in a ceremony inHo Chi Minh City on August 17.

Addressing the event, President of the Vietnam-IndiaFriendship Association of HCM City Huynh Thanh Lap underlined that Vietnam andIndia have shared long-standing traditional relations originated from trade,cultural and art exchanges, and religious ties.

The bilateral ties have been fostered byleaders of the two nations, especially after Vietnam and India elevated theirrelationship to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, hesaid.

The countries have enjoyed sound relations inall fields, including politics, economy, culture, science-technology, spaceresearch, national defence, and security, Lap added.

For his part, Indian Consul General in HCMCity Srikar Reddy affirmed that Vietnam is one firm pillar in India’s Act Eastpolicy.

The Vietnam-India cooperation is thriving onthe foundation of mutual trust, understanding and shared viewpoints in regionaland international issues.

The bilateral ties have been developingfruitfully through visits of senior leaders and cooperation in investment,trade, culture, tourism and education, he said.

The official noted that up to 1,000 scholars,experts and officials in Vietnam’s southern localities have participated in theIndian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) in various fields.

The Indian Government has provided about 200scholarships for Vietnam through the ITEC programme and 30 others via thecultural exchange programme or the cultural scholarship programme each year.

Furthermore, direct air routes linking Hanoiwith Kolkata as well as Hanoi and HCM City with New Delhi are set to belaunched later this year, he added.-VNA
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