VietNamNet Bridge – PM Nguyen Tan Dung proposed Viet Nam and India early open a direct air route to speed up trade linkages between the two countries in the coming time.

Vietnamese PM Nguyen Tan Dung (R) and Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Ha Noi, January 15, 2012.

The Vietnamese Government chief made proposal on January 15 in Ha Noi while receiving Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari who is on an official visit to Viet Nam for closure of the Viet Nam-India Friendship Year.

The host leader also recommended the two sides beef up cooperation in terms of economics, trade, investment and tourism especially raise two-way trade turnover. Bilateral trade rose from US$200 million in 2000 to US$3.9 billion in 2011.

Both countries also need to further enhance cooperation in culture, education, IT manpower training, national defense and security, said the Government chief.

He also hoped that India would help resolve disputes in the East Sea through peaceful measures and on the basis of international law.

For his part, the Vice President revealed that all Indian political parties support closer ties with Viet Nam, regarding the Southeast Asian country as a pillar in its “Look East Policy”.

India is ready to coordinate with Viet Nam on advantageous fields, affirmed President Mohammad Hamid Ansari.
The President also reiterated his country’s consistent policy of advocating peaceful settlement of disputes in the East Sea to safeguard regional and international peace, stability and cooperation.

Earlier on the same day, Vietnamese Vice State President Nguyen Thi Doan held talks with her India counterpart Mohammad Hamid Ansari.

Ms. Doan congratulated India on successful hosting of the 20th anniversary of the ASEAN-India Dialogue Relations in which the two sides agreed to lift bilateral ties to strategic partnership level.

The two leaders expressed their satisfaction of the Viet Nam-India Friendship Year and the positive and practical developments in the bilateral ties.

Both sides agreed to continue cement and deepen the linkages via regular reciprocal visits at all levels; fruitfully realize the signed agreements. Particularly, the two sides targeted to double bilateral trade to US$7 billion by 2015.a
Viet Nam and India also reached consensus to cooperate at international forums.

After talks, Vice State President Doan and her India counterpart Mohammad Hamid Ansari witnessed the signing ceremony of cooperative agreement between respective small and medium-sized enterprises.

Source: VGP