New Delhi (VNA) – Vietnam’s PresidentTran Dai Quang held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhion March 3, during which both highly valued the intensiveand extensive development of Vietnam-India relations in 45 years since thecountries officially set up the diplomatic relationship and reiterated theirclose-knit friendship.

The talks were attended by Vietnam’s Deputy PrimeMinister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Chairman of the PresidentialOffice Dao Viet Trung, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung,Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong, Minister ofIndustry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton SinhThanh, and other senior officials. The Indian representatives include Minister ofExternal Affairs Sushma Swaraj, Minister of State for Defence Subhash RamraoBhamre, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Nripendra Misra, NationalSecurity Advisor Ajit Doval, and Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Parvathaneni Harish.

[Gun salute welcomes President ꦍTran Dai Quang in Newꦡ Delhi]

President Quang expressed his pleasure to visitIndia and congratulated the Indian State and people on their remarkableachievements gained over the past time, especially high and stable economicgrowth as well as major strides in science-technology and India’s increasingrole and position in the region and around the world.

For his part, Prime Minister Modi congratulatedVietnam on her accomplishments in nation building and development, particular༺lyhaving played the successful role as the host of the APEC Year 2017.

Afterspeaking of the strong development of Vietnam-India relations and reiteratingtheir close-knit friendship, the leaders agreed to fully implement thehigh-level political commitments and the approved documents on political ties.

The countries will also strongly tap into their potentials and advantages so asto intensify cooperation in all spheres. They will increase mutual visits atall levels and enhance cooperation between their Parties, States, Governments,parliaments, localities and people.

To boost bilateral trade to 15 billion USD in2020, the leaders agreed to carry out breakthrough solutions, includingdiversifying export goods of their potential and strength, minimising tradebarriers, closely consulting with each other about trade policy, and expandingaviation and navigation connectivity to facilitate trade activities.

They also agreed to exchange development aidpackages in the fields that can make breakthroughs such as infrastructure,human resources, and science-technology, while improving the research anddevelopment capacity.

President Quang noted Vietnam wants to welcomean inflow of investment from big Indian businesses, particularly in energy,renewable energy, infrastructure, education, and information technology.

The two sides concurred in strengtheningdefence-security cooperation, especially in English language training, capacitybuilding, skill training, technology transfer, preferential credit provision,and hi-tech crime prevention.

The Vietnamese leader welcomed an upcoming visitto his country by the Indian defence minister, appreciating India giving highpriority to defence ties and continuing support for Vietnam in United Nationspeacekeeping operations.

The twoleaders affirmed the importance to raise Vietnamese and Indian youth’sawareness of the long-lasting cultural and religious ties between the twocountries, thus promoting people-to-people exchange and mutual understanding.

President Tran Dai Quang lauded India’s support for Vietnam to implement aproject to conserve and embellish the My Son holly site, as well as the country’sfuture assistance to preserve Cham towers in Ninh Thuan province.

While comparing their notes of regional and international issue of commonconcern, Quang and Modi agreed on the importance to maintain peace, stabilityand aviation and navigation freedom; settle disputes bypeaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 UnitedNations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and fullyrespect diplomatic and legal processes.

They also underlined the need to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the Ease Sea(DOC) and soonachieve a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).

Modi affirmed India will continue to promote the implementation of its “ActEast Policy” to boost its cooperation with the Asian-Pacific region, notingthat Vietnam is a priority and plays a key role in the policy.

The two sides agreed to support each other at international and regionalforums, especially in running for seats in important agencies of the UnitedNations, and in sharing initiatives on global issues to realise UN SustainableDevelopment Goals (SDGs).

After their talks, President Quang and PM Modi witnessed the hand-over ofcooperation agreements signed during the visit, including a memorandum ofunderstanding (MoU) between the two sid🍒es’ ministries of industry and trade oneconomic and trade cooperation; the Action Plan on agricultural collaborationin 2018-2020; the MoU on cooperation between 🌠the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute and the GlobalCentre for Nuclear Energy Partnership.-VNA