Huynh Thanh Lap, President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations and the Vietnam-India Friendship Association’s chapter in Ho Chi Minh City (Source: voh.com.vn) HCM City (VNA) – The Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations and the Vietnam-India Friendship Association’s Chapter in Ho Chi Minh City held a ceremony on August 8 to mark the 69 th Independence Day of India.
Addressing the event, Huynh Thanh Lap, President of the chapter, highlighted the traditional friendship between Vietnam and India through the two countries’ history, together with similarities in culture, art and religion.
In recent years, the ties have progressed significantly, with the increased exchange of high-level delegations as well as the signing of many bilateral cooperation agreements and close coordination at international and regional forums, he noted.
Since the two countries set up their strategic partnership in 2007, their cooperation has thrived in all fields, with two-way trade increasing year by year and expected to reach 2 billion USD by 2020, said Lap.
He added that besides economic partnership, bilateral affiliation in other fields including culture and education has also brought the two countries closer together.
Smita Pant, Indian Consul General to Ho Chi Minh City, stated that India and Vietnam have a shared brotherhood and comradeship based on mutual trust and support during wartime as well as in national construction in each country.
Over the past years, the two countries have fostered their cooperation in various fields, including defence, security, trade, investment, science and technology, human resources training, and education, she said.
She also held that cultural exchange activities as well as people-to-people contacts between the two countries have helped develop their traditional friendship.-VNA
