Participants at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA)HCMCity (VNA) – A ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam – India diplomatic ties (1972 – 2022) was held by thePeople’s Committee of Ho Chi Minh City on January 6.
Addressingthe event, Vice Secretary of the municipal Party Committee and Chairman of the municipalPeople’s Committee Phan Van Mai highlighted the flourishing development of the traditionalfriendship and multifaceted cooperation between Vietnam and India.
Since the two countries upgraded their relations to the comprehensive strategicpartnership in 2016, Vietnam has always affirmed its consistent policy ofattaching importance to, strengthening and promoting relations with India, Maisaid.
In 2021, despite impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic,India was still one of the top 10 trading partners ofVietnam, withtwo-way trade turnover hitting nearly 11 billion USD - an increase of nearly 40percent year-on-year.
Vietnamesepeople always appreciate the Indian side's valuable support such as provision of COVID-19 treatment medicine and medical oxygen for Vietnam, and transfer of vaccine production technology, he said.
The Vietnam – India relationship, which has been tested through time, is atestament to the trust, friendship, and strong commitment of leaders and peopleof the two countries, he said, expressing his belief that this foundation-basedbilateral cooperation will make the comprehensive strategic partnership, and thecooperation between HCM City and India in particular stronger for the sake ofthe two people, and for peace, stability, and prosperity in Asia and the world.
Consul General of India in HCM City Madan Mohan Sethi speaks at the ceremony. (Photo: VNA)For his part, Consul General of India in HCM City Madan Mohan Sethi saidVietnam is a reliable friend of India.
He highly appreciated the support that the Vietnamese Government and people havegiven to India in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, saying that India will certainly always remember this precious help.
According to the diplomat, cooperation between the two countries has beenexpanded to almost important fields such as education, oil and gas, hydropowerdevelopment, diplomacy, start-ups, and space technology.
There is great potential for the two sides to promote cooperation, hestressed, advising Vietnamese businesses from different fields to seek and setup trade ties with Indian partners./.
