Vietnam considered a pillar in India's 'Act East' policy

Talks were held between NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha (the lower house) Om Birla in Hanoi on April 19 following an official welcome ceremony for the Indian parliamentary leader.

During the talks, the top Vietnamese legislator appreciated the visit of the Indian parliamentary leader and his entourage especially in the context that the two countries are launching a wide range of activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic ties.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue said he is glad to see the Vietnam - India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership growing steadily in a multitude of fields.

Despite the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, the two countries have maintained and strengthened important cooperation mechanisms, and jointly implemented the 2021-2023 Action Program aimed at developing the bilateral relations in a more substantive and effective manner.

Hue expressed his confidence that the enhancement of cooperation between the two legislatures will make an important contribution to further reinforcing the comprehensive strategic partnership in the coming time. This is in addition to ensuring peace, stability, cooperation and prosperity in the Indian Ocean, Pacific Ocean region and in the world.

The Vietnamese NA leader affirmed Vietnam's readiness to share experience on issues of shared concern.

The two parliamentary leaders informed each other about the situation in their respective country. Om Birla congratulated Vietnam on setting a goal of becoming a developed and high-income country by 2045.

Noting that the two countries have many similar development goals, Speaker Om Birla suggested both sides step up cooperation in the fields of trade, investment, science and technology, services, digital transformation, among others.

At the talks, the two leaders also compared notes on a number of international and regional issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea issue and the situation in Ukraine. They underlined the need for compliance with international laws and welcomed efforts made for dialogue and negotiations.

Vietnam regards India as a global power and supports the South Asian nation in playing a greater role in multilateral institutions, maintaining and ensuring the multipolar world order, based on international law. Vietnam also backs India's bid to become a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) when this mechanism is expanded, and join the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), Hue told his guest.

The top Vietnamese legislator proposed that India support Vietnam's bid to run for seats in the UN Human Rights Council (2023-2025 tenure), the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (2023-2028 tenure), and the Legal and Technical Commission (2023-2027 tenure). 

Regarding parliamentary cooperation, the pair agreed to strengthen exchanges and meetings between friendship parliamentary groups, and cooperation between specialized committees, and sharing of experience in the adoption of laws, and intensify election inspection and supervision.

They consented to boost closer coordination at international and regional forums, including the  Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the Asia-Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF),  and beef up international cooperation in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, economic recovery, green development, sustainability, and innovation.

The Indian low house speaker said that the Indian Parliament has just established a Friendship Parliamentary Group with the National Assembly of Vietnam, while hoping the group will contribute to enhancing the cooperation between the two legislative bodies.

Hue said Vietnam is highly interested in building and completing institution for digital transformation and the shaping of global order basing on international law and respect for the right to self-determination and sovereignty of states.

He suggested that the two legislatures accelerate the implementation of signed agreements and treaties and coordinate to launch a broad array of activities marking the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2022.

He noted that after his visit to India, he had asked the Government to work with India to swiftly carry out the agreements reached during the visit. As a result, an Indian firm has chosen Hai Duong province of Vietnam to develop a pharmaceutical park project worth around US$12 billion.

The Vietnamese NA leader invited Vice President and Chairman of the Upper House of India Venkaial Naidu to visit Vietnam again in the coming time.

The same day, the two parliamentary leaders attended a launch ceremony of Vietjet Air's new direct air routes between both nations, which marked the return and expansion of its network in the 1.4-billion-strong market.

The four new routes connect Hanoi and Mumbai, Ho Chi Minh City and Mumbai, and the southern resort island of Phu Quoc with New Delhi and Mumbai.

Accordingly, Vietjet Air will open four round-trip flights each week on the HCM City-Mumbai route from June 2 and three weekly round-trip flights on the Hanoi-Mumbai route from June 3.

Meanwhile, four round-trip flights will be available each week on the Phu Quoc-Mumbai route and three on the Phu Quoc-New Delhi route from September 8 and 9, respectively.

Vietjet is set to resume regular commercial flights linking Hanoi/HCM City and New Delhi from April 29 and April 30, with three round-trip flights each week for each route.
Vietjet Managing Director Dinh Viet Phuong said the expansion of Vietjet's network to India demonstrates the airline’s commitment to continuing to bring new travel opportunities for people at reasonable costs and shorter time.

Host and guest also witnessed the exchange of documents for the agreement to form a joint venture between Galaxy Digital Holdings, a member of Sovico Group, and India’s Tech Mahindra Limited. 

Latter the same day, the Vietnamese NA leader hosted a banquet in honour of the Indian lower house speaker and his delegation.