The trip will be
made at the invitation of Chairman of the Indian Senate Mohammad Hamid Ansarin
and Speaker of India’s Lower House Sumitra Mahajan.
It aims to intensify the countries’ multifaceted cooperation on the threshold of
the 45th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties (1972) and 10 years since their
strategic partnership was established (2007).
The tour is set to beef up connections between the two parliaments, laying a
firm foundation for long-term and stable relations with India.
Vietnam and India boast a friendship that has been nurtured by their leaders
throughout history.
In the 1950s, President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru affirmed
the two peoples’ faithful friendship. Nehru was one of the first foreign leaders
to visit Vietnam after it won the war against France in 1954.
President Ho Chi Minh visited India in 1958, and one year later, Indian
President Rajendra Prasad made a trip to the Southeast Asian nation.
The two countries established diplomatic ties on January 7, 1972, opening up a
new chapter in bilateral amity. Relations have been solidified in past years to
become an example of cooperation and friendship.
In July 2007, Vietnam and India elevated their ties to a strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi paid an official visit to Vietnam in September 2016
during which the two sides raised their relations to a comprehensive strategic
partnership.
In terms of economic links, India is one of the 10 biggest trade partners of
Vietnam, which is also a prioritised partner in the South Asian nation’s “Act
East” policy.
Two-way trade has risen, reaching US$5.23 billion in 2013, US$5.6 billion in
2014, and US$3.9 billion in the first nine months of 2016. It is hoped to hit
US$15 billion by 2020.
India ranks 28th among 116 countries and territories investing in the ASEAN
country with 118 valid projects worth US$590 million at present.
Through short- and long-term scholarships, it has been helping Vietnam in
manpower training in various fields such as IT, economics, law, and English.
Relations between their legislative bodies have also been intensified in recent
years as seen through increased exchanges of information, high-level delegations
and friendship parliamentary groups. They have created favourable policies for
the countries’ friendship and cooperation, especially in politics,
security-defence, and science-technology.
At international and regional inter-parliamentary forums, Vietnamese and Indian
legislators have supported the viewpoints shared by their country leaders on
global events, especially on the East Sea issue.
VNA
.jpg "Phu Quy Island starts peak tourism season")
