India, Vietnam to enhance strategic partnership

Hanoi, Nov 27 (UNI) India and Vietnam today decided to take their strategic partnership to new heights as Presidents of both the nations discussed wide range of issues of mutual interests here.

At the summit-level talks between President Pratibha Devisingh Patil and her Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Minh Triet, the latter reiterated Vietnam's commitment to support India for permanent membership in the United Nations, proposed restructured Security Council.

President Triet also assured that Vietnam would vote in favour of India's nomination for a two-year non-permanent membership in the council for 2011 and 2012, election to which would be held in October 2010.

Expressing great concern over terror activities in India, he said Vietnam was ready for any joint effort to combat the menace to establish peace in the region.

Earlier, the President who is on a four-day state visit to Vietnam, was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Presidential Palace, where the two leaders held a one-on-one talks, followed by official level talks in which both the Presidents appreciated the cordial relations and friendship between the two countries and decided to widen it in areas like strategic partership in political, economic, cultural fields and promote people-to-people contact. It was decided that there should be exchange of delegations at both national and provincial levels.

Besides, the two countries should have understanding on international arena like ASEAN, East Asia Summit, UNO and WTO and cooperate with each other. The Vietnamese President thanked India for getting his country into the WTO.

Identifying new areas of cooperation including Information Technology, and deciding to have more Indian investment in Vietnam, both the leaders also raised the importance of strategic partnership, agreed to during the visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister to India, should be given new direction for future. Home Minister Shivraj Patil had visited Vietnam last year and Vietnam Public Security Minister had come to India recently as part of the follow up of the strategic partnership agreement.

Emphasising the need to provide further boost to relationship, the two leaders hoped that cultural, social, business, industrial and trade relations between India and Vietnam would grow at a faster pace.

The Vietnamese President referred to his prime minister's talks with Indian counterpart Manmohan Singh in Beijing and said the friendship between the two nations whose foundation was made by two great leaders, Pt Jawahar lal Nehru and Ho Chi Minh, would be taken to new heights.

Later, a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between India Business Association in Vietnam and Vietnamese Chamber of Commerce and Industry in the presence of both the Presidents. The MoU will facilitate businessmen of both the countries to explore areas of investment.

The President will leave for Bali in Australia tomorrow morning to begin her five-day state visit to that country.

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