India considers Vietnam a key partner in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) and in its "Look East" policy, emphasised Indian Minister of External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee.
Minister Mukherjee made the statement at a banquet held in New Delhi on February 27 to mark the 35th anniversary of Vietnam-India diplomatic ties (1972-2007) and welcome the ongoing visit to India by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Gia Khiem.
Mukherjee noted that the potential for bilateral cooperation is very large and that the two countries are jointly building a strategy to strengthen their relations.
He affirmed that the two countries' relations, fostered by Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru over 50 years ago, have constantly developed on the basis of goodwill and mutual respect.
He expressed his delight that both Vietnam and India are emerging as two of the world's fastest developing economies.
Deputy PM Khiem, who is on a five-day visit to India from February 25, recalled former Prime Minister Pham Van Dong's saying "The Vietnam-India relationship is as pure as a sky without clouds and its value remains unchanged.
He affirmed Vietnam's consistent policy and its determination to bring the traditional friendship and multi-faceted cooperation between Vietnam and India to a new height.
VNA/VOVNews
