Vietnam – India diplomatic ties marked in HCM City

Participants at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

HCM City (VNA) – A ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam – India diplomatic ties (1972 – 2022) was held by the People’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on January 6.

Addressing the event, Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee and Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Phan Van Mai highlighted the flourishing development of the traditional friendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and India.

Since the two countries upgraded their relations to the comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, Vietnam has always affirmed its consistent policy of attaching importance to, strengthening and promoting relations with India, Mai said.

In 2021, despite impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, India was still one of the top 10 trading partners of Vietnam, with two-way trade turnover hitting nearly 11 billion USD - an increase of nearly 40 percent year-on-year.

Vietnamese people always appreciate the Indian side's valuable support such as provision of COVID-19 treatment medicine and medical oxygen for Vietnam, and transfer of vaccine production technology, he said.

The Vietnam – India relationship, which has been tested through time, is a testament to the trust, friendship, and strong commitment of leaders and people of the two countries, he said, expressing his belief that this foundation-based bilateral cooperation will make the comprehensive strategic partnership, and the cooperation between HCM City and India in particular stronger for the sake of the two people, and for peace, stability, and prosperity in Asia and the world.

Consul General of India in HCM City Madan Mohan Sethi speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA)

For his part, Consul General of India in HCM City Madan Mohan Sethi said Vietnam is a reliable friend of India.

He highly appreciated the support that the Vietnamese Government and people have given to India in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that India will certainly always remember this precious help.

According to the diplomat, cooperation between the two countries has been expanded to almost important fields such as education, oil and gas, hydropower development, diplomacy, start-ups, and space technology.

There is great potential for the two sides to promote cooperation, he stressed, advising Vietnamese businesses from different fields to seek and set up trade ties with Indian partners./.