Vietnam will exert its utmost to bring its friendly and cooperative ties with India to a new height on par with the two countries’ strategic partnership, affirmed Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung.

PM Dung made the statement at a reception given to visiting Indian Minister of Food Processing Industries Subodh Kant Sahai in Hanoi on May 19.

He praised the results of the talks between the Indian delegation and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development (MARD) and said he hoped that the delegation’s visit is a practical activity to foster the two countries’ special friendship.

The PM recommended that both sides quickly sign and implement the agreements reached during the delegation’s working visit, especially the application of scientific and technological achievements in food processing industries.

The signing of a free trade agreement between ASEAN and India and India ’s recognition of Vietnam ’s market economy are premise for Vietnam to further enhance the relationship between India and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), said PM Dung.

He said he hoped India, which boasts a strong economic potential, will constantly promote its trade ties with Vietnam and assist the latter in reducing its trade deficit with India.

Vietnam welcomes the Indian Prime Minister’s official visit to Vietnam and his attendance at the ASEAN-India conference to be held in Vietnam late this year, emphasised PM Dung.

As Chair of ASEAN in 2010, Vietnam’s prestige has unceasingly increased in the international arena, affirmed Minister Sahai, saying that the Indian Government always wants to accelerate cooperative ties with Vietnam and with ASEAN through Vietnam.

He said he was happy at the agreements reached with the MARD, particularly cooperative programmes in farm produce processing./.