President: Vietnam, India should strengthen cooperation
Both Vietnam and India need to take advantage of their strengths to boost all-round cooperation and bring their friendship and strategic partnership to a higher level.
President Truong Tan Sang made this statement on May 22 in Hanoi while receiving a delegation from the India-Vietnam Solidarity Committee, led by its President Geetesh Sharma.
The Vietnamese President said he believes the Indian delegation’s visit will contribute to strengthening the time-honoured friendship and cooperation between the two nations.
Their bilateral relationship has made great strides in recent years, especially after they officially established a strategic partnership in 2007, which has helped promote cooperation in politics, economics, national defence, culture and education.
President Sang said that during his recent visit to India, both sides signed seven agreements on cooperation in oil and gas, aviation, research, training, agriculture and cultural exchange, as well as a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for the Vietnam-India Friendship Year 2012 to mark the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic ties (1972-2012).
Over the past few years, the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) and the Vietnam-India Friendship Association have launched a variety of activities with Indian partners including the All India Peace and Solidarity Organization (AIPSO), the India-Vietnam Friendship Association and the India-Vietnam Solidarity Committee.
President Sang said he hopes that the Indian delegation’s visit will provide them with ideas to propose measures for boosting ties between the Committee and Vietnamese organizations and improve the substantial strategic partnership between the two nations.
Mr Sharma praised Vietnam’s socio-cultural achievements, as well as its tangible and intangible cultures, while expressing his hope that Vietnam will create the best possible conditions for his Committee to contribute more to bilateral diplomatic ties.