President Truong Tan Sang and his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjeeagreed to intensify the Vietnamese-Indian strategic partnership with afocus on politics, defence, security, economics, science-technology, oiland gas, culture, people-to-people exchanges, and regional andmultilateral cooperation.
During their talks inHanoi on September 15, President Sang said the visit was of paramountimportance for the thriving friendship and comprehensive cooperationbetween the two countries.
He expressed hisgratitude for India’s support during Vietnam’s struggle forindependence and ongoing national development process, while holding outhope that their strategic partnership would continue to develop in thefuture.
The Vietnamese leader also valued India’s wide-ranging accomplishments, which he believed would prosper evenmore and help raise the South Asian country’s status in the globalarena.
For his part, President Mukherjeeacknowledged the growth in the countries’ friendship, particularly sincethe establishment of the strategic partnership in 2007.
He stressed that Vietnam was an important pillar in India’s LookEast policy and the development of India-ASEAN relations, and expressedhis wish for their strategic partnership to be strengthened further.
At the talks, both sides agreed to promote bilateralcooperation mechanisms, particularly the inter-governmental committee,political consultations and strategic dialogues between the twocountries.
They said they would increase theexchange of delegations at all levels, hold a meeting of theinter-governmental committee in 2015 in Vietnam, and implementagreements effectively to deepen bilateral cooperation.
The presidents expressed their appreciation of the countries’security-defence collaboration, which is critical to the strategicpartnership, and noted that the signing of the memorandum ofunderstanding (MoU) on the line of credit of 100 million USD extended byIndia to Vietnam would open new avenues for cooperation.
They also highlighted the rapid growth in bilateral trade which is expected to hit 15 billion USD by 2020.
The leaders spoke highly of the two countries’ cultural andpeople-to-people connections and applauded the coordination betweenIndia’s Jet Airways and Vietnam Airlines to open an India-Vietnamdirect flight route scheduled to operate from this November onwards.
They agreed to further their affiliation in other spheres, such asagriculture, fishing, information technology, and education-training.
During the event, Presidents Sang and Mukherjee also exchanged their views on issues of mutual interest.
They valued their bilateral cooperation and agreed to expand theirties at regional and international forums, including ASEAN-Indiancooperation, the East Asia Summit (EAS), Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC),the Non-Aligned Movement, South-South cooperation, and the UnitedNations Organisation.
They reaffirmed mutual supportfor their respective candidatures for non-permanent membership of theUN Security Council (UNSC), Vietnam for the term 2020-2021 and Indiafor the term 2021-2022.
Both sides also stressedthe need for an urgent reform of the UN and the expansion of permanentand non-permanent UNSC membership. India expressed its gratitude forVietnam’s consistent support for India’s candidature for permanentmembership in a reformed and expanded UNSC.
The twoleaders also agreed on the importance of security, safety and freedom ofnavigation in the East Sea. They called upon all parties toresolve disputes peacefully in line with international law, includingthe 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, implement the 2002Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and work towardsthe adoption of a Code of Conduct in these waters.
Following the talks, the presidents witnessed the signing of a number ofagreements, including an agreement between the two governments oncooperation and mutual assistance on customs matters, a dollar creditline agreement between the Vietnamese Government and EXIM Bank of India, and an MoU on pangasius farming in India.
The same day,Presidents Sang and Pranab Mukherjee attended the opening ceremony of acentre for Indian studies under the Vietnam National Academy of Politicsand Public Administration in Hanoi.
PresidentMukherjee described the centre as a symbol of the two countries’people-to-people diplomacy and expressed his hope for further linksbetween their research bodies and universities.-VNA
During their talks inHanoi on September 15, President Sang said the visit was of paramountimportance for the thriving friendship and comprehensive cooperationbetween the two countries.
He expressed hisgratitude for India’s support during Vietnam’s struggle forindependence and ongoing national development process, while holding outhope that their strategic partnership would continue to develop in thefuture.
The Vietnamese leader also valued India’s wide-ranging accomplishments, which he believed would prosper evenmore and help raise the South Asian country’s status in the globalarena.
For his part, President Mukherjeeacknowledged the growth in the countries’ friendship, particularly sincethe establishment of the strategic partnership in 2007.
He stressed that Vietnam was an important pillar in India’s LookEast policy and the development of India-ASEAN relations, and expressedhis wish for their strategic partnership to be strengthened further.
At the talks, both sides agreed to promote bilateralcooperation mechanisms, particularly the inter-governmental committee,political consultations and strategic dialogues between the twocountries.
They said they would increase theexchange of delegations at all levels, hold a meeting of theinter-governmental committee in 2015 in Vietnam, and implementagreements effectively to deepen bilateral cooperation.
The presidents expressed their appreciation of the countries’security-defence collaboration, which is critical to the strategicpartnership, and noted that the signing of the memorandum ofunderstanding (MoU) on the line of credit of 100 million USD extended byIndia to Vietnam would open new avenues for cooperation.
They also highlighted the rapid growth in bilateral trade which is expected to hit 15 billion USD by 2020.
The leaders spoke highly of the two countries’ cultural andpeople-to-people connections and applauded the coordination betweenIndia’s Jet Airways and Vietnam Airlines to open an India-Vietnamdirect flight route scheduled to operate from this November onwards.
They agreed to further their affiliation in other spheres, such asagriculture, fishing, information technology, and education-training.
During the event, Presidents Sang and Mukherjee also exchanged their views on issues of mutual interest.
They valued their bilateral cooperation and agreed to expand theirties at regional and international forums, including ASEAN-Indiancooperation, the East Asia Summit (EAS), Mekong-Ganga Cooperation (MGC),the Non-Aligned Movement, South-South cooperation, and the UnitedNations Organisation.
They reaffirmed mutual supportfor their respective candidatures for non-permanent membership of theUN Security Council (UNSC), Vietnam for the term 2020-2021 and Indiafor the term 2021-2022.
Both sides also stressedthe need for an urgent reform of the UN and the expansion of permanentand non-permanent UNSC membership. India expressed its gratitude forVietnam’s consistent support for India’s candidature for permanentmembership in a reformed and expanded UNSC.
The twoleaders also agreed on the importance of security, safety and freedom ofnavigation in the East Sea. They called upon all parties toresolve disputes peacefully in line with international law, includingthe 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, implement the 2002Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and work towardsthe adoption of a Code of Conduct in these waters.
Following the talks, the presidents witnessed the signing of a number ofagreements, including an agreement between the two governments oncooperation and mutual assistance on customs matters, a dollar creditline agreement between the Vietnamese Government and EXIM Bank of India, and an MoU on pangasius farming in India.
The same day,Presidents Sang and Pranab Mukherjee attended the opening ceremony of acentre for Indian studies under the Vietnam National Academy of Politicsand Public Administration in Hanoi.
PresidentMukherjee described the centre as a symbol of the two countries’people-to-people diplomacy and expressed his hope for further linksbetween their research bodies and universities.-VNA
