NewDelhi (VNA) – India has always been a steadfast friend and adevelopment partner of Vietnam, an official from the Indian Ministry ofExternal Affairs said on the occasion of Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang’sState visit to India from March 2-4.

Inan interview granted to Vietnam News Agency, Secretary (East) of the IndianMinistry of External Affairs Preeti Saran highlighted the fact that relationsbetween India and Vietnam are historical and civilizational, spanning over 2,000years, and succeeding generations of leaders have forged strong friendship andcooperation between the two countries based on mutual trust, congruence ofviews on regional and international affairs and strong people-to-people andcultural linkages.

Itis therefore not surprising that India and Vietnam have a comprehensivestrategic partnership, she said, noting that over the years, aided by strategicconvergences and robust economic growth in both countries, the two countries’bilateral relationship has strengthened and broadened to include a large numberof areas.

Accordingto her, the most tangible outcomes have emerged in the fields of security anddefence cooperation. For India, Vietnam is the second largest exportdestination in ASEAN. Total trade now exceeds 10 billion USD, the officialsaid, noting her belief that with mutual efforts, it would maintain its upwardmovement.

PreetiSaran noted that the visit by the President of Vietnam to India is taking placeafter a gap of over 6 years, the last visit being by President Truong Tan Sangin October 2011. It is also the first bilateral State visit from the Vietnameseside since the very successful visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Vietnamin September 2016, though Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc visited India inJanuary 2018 for the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit.

“Thevisit is timely given that the two countries celebrated the year 2017 as theYear of Friendship, commemorating 45 years of the establishment of their diplomaticrelations, 10 years of establishment of our Strategic Partnership and 25 yearsof the India-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership. Vietnam has also been the ASEANcoordinator country for India for the period 2015-18,” she said.

Theofficial stressed that Vietnam is a key pillar of India’s Act East policy andof its engagement with ASEAN. Bilateral economic ties with Vietnam have helpedin expansion of India-ASEAN ties, she said, adding that India remains committedto an open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based regional architecturethrough enhanced maritime engagement.

“Weare committed to work together for achieving a free, open and prosperousIndo-Pacific region where sovereignty and international law are respected anddifferences are resolved through dialogue,” she said.

PreetiSaran reiterated that defence and economic cooperation is the central pillar ofVietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and is progressing well. Sheunderlined that economic ties between the two countries have risen multifoldover the years, and bilateral trade has crossed 10 billion USD and both sidesare committed to achieving the trade target of 15 billion USD by 2020. Bothcountries are implementing agreements and MOUs on Peaceful Uses of AtomicEnergy and Outer Space, Information and Communications cooperation, Health,Cyber Security and exchange of White Shipping information. India is also readyto collaborate further with Vietnam in the areas of atomic energy and space.

Accordingto the official, in months and years ahead, there are new opportunities forgrowth and strengthening of relations between the two nations.

“Wewill continue to enhance our economic and cultural engagement. We need toredouble our efforts to reach the trade target of 15 billion USD by 2020. Wealso need to further expand our cooperation in such fields as oil and gas,peaceful uses of nuclear energy, space, defence, etc. This would strengthen ourComprehensive Strategic Partnership. Simultaneously, we will continue tocooperate with each other in the multilateral fora, especially in dealing withcomplex challenges of today such as counter-terrorism,” she said.

Pointingout that both India and Vietnam have common perspectives on peace, stabilityand security in the Indo-Pacific region and are committed to the centrality ofASEAN in the regional security and economic architecture, she said India believesit should be inclusive, open and based on the principles of international law.

“Wewill continue to support freedom of navigation and overflight and peacefulresolution of all outstanding issues in the region,” the Secretary concluded.-VNA