New Delhi: India is looking to enhance cooperation with Vietnam in defence, security and political arena as there is immense potential for bilateral engagement between the two nations, President Pranab Mukherjee said on Saturday.
The President noted that India-Vietnam partnership has reached a "high point" and is also beneficial to ASEAN and the region beyond. "Political, defence and security cooperation is one of the major pillars of our cooperation. We are of the view that there is much more potential that can be realised in this area and both sides are working towards it along with our regional partners," Mukherjee told Vietnamese News Agency (VNA) on the eve of his departure for a four-day state visit to the country.
Mukherjee, who will meet the top leadership of Vietnam including President Truong Tan Sang, said his trip is aimed at enhancing the mutual goodwill between the two countries and translate it into further mutually beneficial cooperation.
"I am confident that our mutual goodwill can be translated into further mutually beneficial cooperation as there is immense potential for future cooperation. Moreover, our partnership is also beneficial to ASEAN and the region beyond.
"During my visit to Vietnam in the coming days, I look forward to strengthening this partnership through discussions with my counterpart His Excellency President Truong Tan Sang and other leaders of Vietnam," he said. The visit, which will take Mukherjee to capital Hanoi and the historical Ho Chi Minh City, is set to witness inking of a number of memorandums between the two countries including one between ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) and Petro Vietnam with regard to exploration activities in the South China Sea, a move opposed by China.
"Bilateral relations between India and Vietnam are excellent. They have never been better than what they are on Saturday. Our strategic partnership, which was established in 2007, is now entering its eighth year of implementation. "In recent years, our relations have witnessed a continuous broadening and deepening in all aspects. Our relations are marked by strong mutual trust, understanding, support and a convergence of views on various regional and international issues," he said.
The President said that the foundation of friendship between India and Vietnam laid by former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Ho Chi Minh has flourished over the years and has brought us to a "high point today". Lauding Vietnam, Mukherjee said that India has great admiration for the Vietnamese people, their fortitude, courage and for their determination to succeed against odds. He also called the South East Asian nation as an "important pillar" in India's Look East Policy. "Vietnam has been a strategic partner for India both within ASEAN and in the wider region. We deeply appreciate Vietnam's support for India at all regional and international fora and look forward to further deepening this aspect of our cooperation.
"With ASEAN integration acquiring momentum, we have deepened our regional interaction, stepped up initiatives to promote connectivity and expanded people-to-people links to enhance our role in the new era. I see India and Vietnam as partners, contributing to peace, prosperity and stability in the wider region," he said. The President said there was a need to undertake more efforts to bring together the youth force of the two nations.
"There is, however, a gap in information about each other among the younger generations. I understand that both sides are working on increased youth and cultural exchanges including exchange of cultural content, films and television programmes which can address this gap. "I am also happy to note that direct flight services between our two countries will start shortly. This will give a major boost to increased business, tourism and people-to-people contacts," he said.
Mukherjee said that the two countries have a convergence of views and strong cooperation at all regional and international fora. "There is strong mutual support and understanding between us," he said.
The President, who last travelled to the country in 2011 as India's Finance Minister, said there is a lot of potential that remains to be tapped between the two nations in the economic arena. "In economic cooperation too, we have made a lot of progress. Our trade volume has increased almost three and a half times since 2007. We are well on track to meet our trade targets. The prospects for investment cooperation are also bright.
"More and more Indian companies are now looking at Vietnam for doing business. There is a great interest among businessmen for future cooperation and I am confident that with efforts on both sides, we will be able to increase our trade and investment levels several fold, in the years to come," he said.
Talking about science and technology cooperation, the President said there has been good progress in this area but a lot more can still be done. "We have active cooperation in agriculture, health, pharmaceuticals and other sectors. We are cooperating in advanced areas like civil nuclear cooperation and space cooperation. I am confident that these will be strengthened in the coming years.
"In cultural and technical cooperation, I am happy to note that Vietnam is one of the largest recipients of India's Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme (ITEC). We are expanding our education links through the Connect to India programme. Our historical and civilisational linkages are a strong bond and Buddhism closely connects our two countries and peoples," he said.
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