NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (L) and Indian Vice President and Chairman of the Council of States Venkaiah Naidu at their meeting in New Delhi on December 17 (Photo: VNA)

Welcoming the top Vietnamese legislator, who is paying an official visit to India, Naidu thanked the Vietnamese NA, Government, and people for their timely assistance to the South Asian country in the most trying times of the COVID-19 fight.

He also highly valued Vietnam’s growing role and position in the region and the world, adding that the two countries have coordinated with each other well while serving as non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council.

Hue said Vietnam always attaches importance to its comprehensive strategic partnership with India. He also congratulated India on having basically put the pandemic under control.

At the meeting, the two leaders spoke highly of the cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries.

They agreed to maintain all-level mutual visits between the Vietnamese and Indian states, governments, parliaments, parties, localities, and people. They also concurred in organising meaningful and practical activities to mark the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic ties in 2022.

Vietnam and India will step up appropriate activities to support their businesses to boost exporting commodities they have strength in to each other’s markets.

Hue welcomed Indian enterprises increasing investment in different fields in Vietnam such as processing, manufacturing, auto supporting industry, information and communication technology, renewable energy, hi-tech agriculture, and innovation. He also suggested the two countries strengthen ties in the fight against terrorism and trans-national crime.

The two leaders said they will continue enhancing cooperation in culture, heritage preservation, people-to-people exchange, and tourism.

Besides, Vietnam and India will bolster cooperation and mutual support when running for seats in international organisations, the two leaders noted, applauding the countries’ mutual backing at regional and international forums.

Both host and guest underlined the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea - an arterial shipping route of the world. They also voiced support for promoting dialogue, trust building, self-restraint, and peaceful settlement of disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS)./.

VN National Assembly Chairman holds talks with Indian Lok Sabha Speaker

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with Speaker of the Lok Sabha (House of Representatives) of India Om Birla on Thursday during his official visit to India.

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (front row, fourth right) and Indian lower house speaker Om Birla at the talks in New Delhi on December 16 .VNA Photo Doan Tan

At the talks, the Indian lower house leader hailed the significance of NA Chairman Hue’s visit as the two countries mark the 50th anniversary of their friendship and five years of their comprehensive strategic partnership.

He said the visit provided an opportunity for high-ranking leaders of the two countries to discuss measures to further deepen their multi-faceted relations.         

He affirmed that Vietnam had a leading important role in India’s Act East Policy, and was a key partner in the Indo-Pacific vision of India.

The Vietnamese NA Chairman affirmed that Vietnam always considers India a reliable close friend, and expressed his joy at the strong development of the five-year comprehensive strategic partnership in all fields, particularly politics-diplomacy, defence-security, trade, culture and people-to-people exchange.

He proposed that the two countries continue to work closely together to implement the plan of actions for 2021-2023, thus bringing practical benefits to the Governments and people of both countries.

Hue took the occasion to thank India for its valuable support for Vietnam in the COVID-19 fight, particularly the provision of medical supplies during the fourth wave of the pandemic in Vietnam. He asked India to continue cooperating with Vietnam in transferring vaccine production technology.         

The NA Chairman welcomed Indian enterprises’ investment in Vietnam in fields of India’s strength such as manufacturing-processing, automobile support industry, information and communication technology, and energy and renewable energy.

He suggested that the law-making bodies of both countries bring into full play their role in promoting bilateral ties, and enhance cooperation and experience sharing in building institutions and fine-tuning the legal system. He informed the host that the 15th National Assembly of Vietnam had established a Vietnam-India Friendship Parliamentarians’ Group.       

The two legislative leaders agreed to coordinate to well organise practical and meaningful activities to mark the 50th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relationship in 2022.   

They assessed that defence-security cooperation continued to be among important pillars of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, which reflected the high level of trust between the two countries.

They showed joy at the rapid growth of bilateral trade at nearly 20 per cent a year over the past five years to top US$12 billion this year, towards the goal of $15 billion a year. They agreed to expand cooperation in such fields as energy, science-technology, sustainable development, green economy and climate change response.

The two sides shared the need to early resume direct air services between the two countries and recognise each other’s vaccine passports in order to enhance exchanges between their people. They discussed measures to strengthen ties in culture, tourism, people to people exchange, natural resources and the environment, justice and finance.

The two legislative leaders showed delight at the close coordination and mutual support between the two countries at regional and international forums, UN agencies, the Non-aligned Movement and the UN Security Council, especially in 2021 when both countries are non-permanent members of the UN Security Council.

They affirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and maritime and aviation safety and freedom in the East Sea, while reiterating support for promoting dialogue, trust building, self-restraint, and the settlement of disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea.

They also proposed increasing cooperative activities between the two parliaments in both bilateral framework and multilateral forums.

NA Chairman Hue invited the Speaker of the Lok Sabha of India to visit Vietnam at a convenient time, and the latter accepted the invitation with pleasure.

Earlier the same day, NA Chairman Hue and the Vietnamese NA delegation visited the Parliament House and the Ho Chi Minh Marg in New Delhi. They also laid flowers in tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at the Raj Ghat Memorial.

Top legislator meets leaders of India’s political parties

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue met with leaders of political parties in India on December 16, as part of his official visit to the South Asian nation.

During his meeting with General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) D. Raja, NA Chairman Hue underlined that the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) always highly values the Vietnam-India ties, especially the relations with the CPI.

In reply, D. Raja affirmed support and solidarity with Vietnam, stressing that in the current period, it is important to bolster cooperation between the two Parties.

The two sides discussed international and regional issues of mutual concern, including the East Sea issue. They agreed that disputes in the East Sea must be resolved by peaceful measures in accordance with international law, notably the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Receiving General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) Sitaram Yechury, the NA Chairman said that the CPV and the CPI-M have nurtured a traditional, close-knit and trustful friendship, voicing his hope that the Indian political party will continue to support the development of the bilateral relations.

For his part, Yechury said the CPI-M has, and will call on other political parties in India to step up relations with Vietnam.

The top legislator took the occasion to invite Yechury to visit Vietnam, which the latter accepted with pleasure.

Meeting with leaders of the Indian National Congress (INC), NA Chairman Hue emphasised that Vietnam is always a loyal friend of India, and asked INC leaders to continue promoting the Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership to a new height in the coming time, meeting the aspiration of the countries’ people.

INC leaders affirmed that the party always supports Vietnam and appreciates the country’s achievements under the leadership of the CPV.

They expressed the wish that the two parties will hold practical activities to commemorate the 50th founding anniversary of the India-Vietnam diplomatic ties next year.

NA Chairman receives leaders of India’s major groups

Chairman of the Vietnamese National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue on December 16 received leaders of major Indian groups as part of his official visit to the South Asian nation.

At a reception for Roshni Nadar Malhotra, CEO of HCL Corporation and Chairperson of HCL Technologies – one of the three biggest tech firms in India, Hue expressed his support for the company’s business activities in Vietnam.

Vietnam has devised a strategy on developing a digital government, digital economy and digital society, with the digital economy expected to contribute 12 percent of the nation's GDP, he said, noting that workforce in this field, therefore, plays a significant role.

For her part, Roshni said HCL is expanding its presence in Asia-Pacific, and Vietnam is a promising market with skilled workforce. She also expressed her hope that the two sides will engage in potential cooperation in the time ahead.

Receiving Suchitra Ella, Joint Managing Director of Bharat Biotech - a pioneering biotechnology company known for its world-class R&D and manufacturing capabilities, Hue welcomed the cooperation plan between the Indian firm and its Vietnamese partners.

The Vietnamese legislature has issued a resolution allowing the Government to take a number of special measures to meet the requirements of COVID-19 prevention and control, he said.

The NA Standing Committee is also considering and will soon issue another resolution that gives the green-light to the Government to roll out a number of specific mechanisms and policies in the health sector, including those relating to medical supplies and COVID-19 treatment drugs.

This will be an opportunity for Bharat Biotech to research, expand cooperation, and transfer vaccine production technology to Vietnamese partners, Hue said.

He emphasised that Vietnam encourages and supports foreign businesses to operate and expand cooperation in the research and production of medical supplies and biological products for COVID-19 diagnosis, as well as treatment drugs and vaccines.

Vietnam will support and create the best possible conditions for foreign firms to do long-term business in the country, he pledged.

At the end of the meeting, Ella presented 200,000 doses of COVID-19 vaccine to Vietnamese children.

Hue also had a meeting with billionaire Prakash Hinduja, Chairman of Hinduja Group in Europe – one of the biggest family businesses globally, during which the billionaire said his group is studying the market and considering the building of an assembly factory in Vietnam, for both commercial and military vehicles.

The group is also exploring investment opportunities in the fields of financial services, banking, automobiles, IT, electricity, renewable energy, and cybersecurity, he added.

The Vietnamese leader suggested the group establish a representative office in Vietnam in preparation for its first projects in the Southeast Asian nation.

Source: VNS/VNA

NA Chair Vuong Dinh Hue arrives in New Delhi, beginning official visit to India

Chairman of the Nation Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue arrived in New Delhi on December 15 for his official visit to India.