This is the second time a Vietnamese State President sets foot in India again, 12 years after former President Tran Duc Luong’s visit to the country in 1999.
The Vietnam-India traditional relationship, fostered by late President Ho Chi Minh and late Prime Minister Shri Jawaharlal Nehru, has continued to grow and flourish through generations of leaders, especially since the two countries established a strategic partnership in July, 2007.
Vietnam and India not only have cooperation mechanisms but also share many points of view on regional and international issues.
With mutual trust in politics, the two countries have expanded cooperation in security and defence with six dialogues conducted so far.
Prospects for bilateral economic, trade, investment, cultural, and education are also promising with two-way trade reaching US$2.7 billion in 2010 and US$1.8 billion in the first six months of 2011. Both sides are expected to increase it to US$7 billion by 2015.
India has committed to raise the level of preferential credit and official development assistance for Vietnam. They have signed an agreement on tourism cooperation and are preparing to open a Vietnam-India direct air route.
India recently agreed to grant 30-day visas to Vietnamese passport holders in an effort to attract more tourists from the southeastern country.
The two countries have renewed the cultural exchange programme for 2007-2010 under which India will open a cultural centre in Hanoi.
In celebration of the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties and 5th anniversary of strategic partnership, both countries have decided to select 2010 as Vietnam-India Friendship Year.
** Vietnam has also spared no effort to maintain friendship and cooperation with Sri Lanka, which supported Vietnam in its past struggle for national independence.
Late Prime Minister Pham Van Dong paid an official visit to Sri Lanka in 1978 and the Sri Lankan President, Prime Minister, and Speaker of Parliament have all visited Vietnam.
The Vietnam-Sri Lanka Joint Committee, set up by the two foreign ministers in 2003, has met twice.
Currently Sri Lanka has seven projects operating in Vietnam with a total charter capital of US$13.5 million.
Economic cooperation, still far from meeting the two countries’ potential, is likely to see a rapid growth rate of 80 percent year on year.
Judging from the practical situation, President Sang’s visits to India and Sri Lanka are expected to create a new breakthrough in Vietnam’s ties of multifaceted cooperation with the two countries for mutual benefits and for the sake of peace, stability, and development in the region and the world.
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