This year sees a wide range of activities to mark the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Vietnam and some other countries, including two strategic partners in Asia: Japan and India.

The three countries are situated in a region dubbed as a driving force for global growth. Vietnam’s relations with Japan and India are flourishing and the year 2013 is considered a pivotal year for the three countries to lay foundation for more sustainable cooperation in the next 40 years.

The traditional friendship between Vietnam and India was nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. In October 1954, just one week after Hanoi took over power from the French Army, Indian Prime Minister Nehru paid an official visit to Vietnam. He was not only the first world leaders to visit Vietnam, but also promptly affirmed the bond between India and the Democratic Republic of Vietnam in war and peace time.

Vietnam never forgets the Indian people’s support for its struggles for national liberation. The Indian people’s slogan of action “Your name, my name, our name Vietnam” has been engraved on the minds of Vietnamese generations. Their faithful friendship has provided a firm foundation for today’s thriving ties between the two countries.

Since the Vietnam-India strategic partnership was established July 2007, both countries’ leaders have defined that promoting their friendship, particularly friendship between the public’s, contributes to bilateral ties, deepens the current multi-polar trend and maintains peace, stability and sustainability in the region. The 5 consecutive people friendship festivals from 2007 to December 2012 were vivid proofs.

Many concrete cooperative programs have been formulated. Historian Le Van Lan over the past two years have been working with his Indian colleagues to build a joint cultural study project, marking the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-India diplomatic ties and the 5th anniversary of bilateral strategic partnership. Le Van Lan told VOV, “The cultural relationship between Vietnam and India is characterized by peace, cooperation and friendship. Our project conducted by the governments will praise the friendly, peaceful and cultural ties between the two countries.”

Like India, Japan is situated in a region that has lasting cultural impact on Vietnam. The geographical proximity, long-standing bond and current strategic interests have made Vietnam and Japan closer to each other. Their strategic partnership Asian peace and prosperity established in 2009 has underlined the importance of such relationship. People’s exchanges have been constantly expanded. Both countries’ leaders agree to observe 2013 as Vietnam-Japan Friendship Year and the Vietnamese government has built a project to host a series of events to mark 40 years of cooperation with Japan.

Tran Ngoc An, Director of the Foundation of Diplomatic Economics of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said “Given the strategic importance and the desire to promote Vietnam’s images to the Japanese people, the Prime Minister and the Party Secretariat has chosen this year as the friendship year with Japan. There will be hectic activities: from high-level contacts to economics, culture and education. We realize that although investment and trade ties between the two countries have grown rapidly, but there remain things to be done. If we work better in advertising Vietnam, we will attract more investment and trade from Japan.”

India with its Look East policy has received goodwill cooperation from Vietnam, who also enjoys benefits from working together with such a big partner. Meanwhile, deepening the Vietnam-Japan strategic partnership will help protect each others’ interests.

VOV