At the signing ceremony (Photo: VNA)

Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue and Chairman of the Lok Sabha (House of Representatives) of India Om Birla witnessed a signing ceremony of a memorandum of understanding between the NA of Vietnam and the Lok Sabha on cooperation in the field of library and television held in New Delhi on December 17.

Accordingly, the Office of the National Assembly of Vietnam and the Office of the Lok Sabha of India will make efforts to strengthen collaboration in exchanging information and improving access to the collection and database of digital documents of two sides’ libraries.

They will cooperate in sharing experience in digitising resources and supplementing digital resources for the library for mutual benefits. The two sides will use an information exchange system on library activities and share digital documents and non-confidential parliamentary documents in accordance with the provisions of each side.

Efforts will be made by the two sides to implement a mechanism to exchange broadcasts and television programmes related to the parliarment activities in the legislative process, monitoring, and accountability, as well as other common issues. Products, information and documents within the cooperation framework are guaranteed in terms of intellectual property rights by both sides in line with laws of each side international treaties to which the two countries are members. The transfer of these products to a third party is subject to the consent of the other party.

The two sides will assign the library of NA and NA Television of Vietnam to coordinate with the library and the Indian Parliamentary Television in the implementation of the contents of the MoU.

Fifth anniversary of Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership marked

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue attended a ceremony marking the fifth anniversary of Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership in New Delhi on December 17.

In his speech, Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said India always considers Vietnam an important partner and wished that bilateral ties would become increasingly closer, contributing to peace, stability and development in the region.

He also hoped that the two nations would tap their potential to support economic development in each country.

Chairman Hue said Indian political parties support friendship with Vietnam. Over the past five years, important achievements have been made in all pillars of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership.

He said the two countries share similar viewpoints on strategic issues and highlighted the need to maintain peace, maritime and aviation freedom in line with international law and the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

The top legislator affirmed Vietnam’s policy of treasuring ties with India and supporting India’s Act East policy. Vietnam backs India’s bid to become a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council when the organ is expanded, he said.

He also proposed the two nations work closely together to carry out the 2021-2023 Action Programme for bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership as well as the Joint Vision Statement for Peace, Prosperity and People./.    

NA Chairman receives Indian Minister of External Affairs

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue hosted a reception in New Delhi for Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on December 17, assuring him that Vietnam always treasures its comprehensive strategic partnership with India.

Hue also lauded India for considering Vietnam a priority in its Act East policy.

He suggested the two foreign ministries work closely together to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties next year, continue facilitating high-level exchanges via Party, State, Government, NA and people-to-people exchange channels.

The leader proposed enhancing economic and tourism recovery and development post pandemic, encouraging airlines to soon restore and open more direct flights connecting the two nations’ major cities.

Speaking highly of their close coordination at regional and international forums, especially when the two countries are non-permanent members of the United Nations Security Council this year, he wished that India would back Vietnam’s bid for seats at international organisations and agencies.

Jaishankar, for his part, stressed that India attaches special importance to Vietnam’s increasingly improved role in the region and the world, and in ASEAN in particular. He wished that Vietnam would continue serving as a bridge promoting closer linkages between India and ASEAN.

They shared the view that the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership is growing on the five pillars of politics-diplomacy, national defence-security, economy-trade-investment, science-technology, culture-sport and people-to-people exchange. The two countries are actively carrying out the 2021-2023 Action Programme and the Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People adopted in December 2020.

Both sides agreed to step up ties in education-training by increasing India’s scholarships for Vietnam, as well as offer all possible support to energy cooperation, including exploration and exploitation of oil and gas at sea, a field of India’s strength.

On regional and global issues of shared concern, they affirmed that Vietnam and India will continue backing efforts to step up the settlement of disputes via peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, for the sake of peace, cooperation, stability and development in the region and the world./.

NA Chairman addresses Vietnam-India Business Forum

NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue speaks at the event (Photo: VNA)

National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue highlighted the great potential of bilateral economic, trade and investment ties while addressing the Vietnam – India Business Forum in New Delhi on December 17.

In his opinion, the two countries need to look towards green and circular economies. Indian firms could invest in infrastructure, processing industry, farm produce, science-technology and education-training.

Former Minister of Commerce and Industry Senator Suresh Prabhu and Director General of the Confederation of Indian Industry Chandrajit Banerjee stressed that the Indian Government is carrying out the Act East policy and Vietnam is one of the important partners of India in Southeast Asia.

Prabhu hailed Vietnam as an example of innovation in the world. President Ho Chi Minh’s thought and Vietnam’s policies and mechanisms always place people in the centre of development goals and orientations.

With similarities, the two countries could cooperate for high growth and improved people’s lives, he said.

On the occasion, Hue witnessed the exchange of 12 bilateral cooperation agreements in workforce training in information technology, oil and gas processing, and energy./.

NA Chairman receives leader of India’s Essar Group

Chairman of the National Assembly Vuong Dinh Hue received Chairman of the Essar Group Prashant Ruia following the Vietnam - India Business Forum held in New Delhi on December 17.

Introducing the Essar Group, billionaire Ruia said the firm is a multi-sector conglomerate with the market value of about 15 billion USD and annual profit of some 2.2 billion USD. It operates in the fields of oil and gas, including oil exploitation, petrochemical technology, and gas liquefaction; mining, metallurgy; and infrastructure development; among others.

Essar wishes to invest in Vietnam, especially in the oil and gas industry, he stressed, adding that it has taken part in the exploration and discovery of natural-gas condensate in the country’s continental shelf since 2008.

Chairman Hue affirmed that Vietnam supports and will create conditions for Indian companies to continue their long-term presence and expand operations related to oil and gas exploration and exploitation in its continental shelf and exclusive economic zone.

Calling on Essar to increase investment in Vietnam, he spoke highly of the diversity in the group’s operations and welcomed its intention to invest in the petrochemical industry./.

Indian paper hails Vietnamese NA Chairman’s visit

The Times of India on December 16 ran an article saying that Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s ongoing visit brings an ambitious agenda covering various aspects, not only bilateral ties but also regional and global issues.

The visit takes place at a time when Vietnam and India are celebrating the fifth anniversary of comprehensive strategic partnership and preparing for the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties next year.

In an interview granted to the Indian press, Hue said his visit aims for three goals, including further deepening bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership and ties between the two legislatures in particular, affording both sides a chance to learn more about respective socio-economic development and foreign policies, and exchanging viewpoints on global issues of shared concern and seeking solutions to them, thus contributing to peace, security, stability and development in the region and the world.

The article said the trip marks a new milestone in bilateral ties, not only in national defence but also in economy and maritime security.

It added that Vietnam’s economic growth during the pandemic is a miracle and the country is emerging as an important production hub. Vietnam – India strategic ties hold great potential in ensuring peace, security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

Vietnam facilitates operations of Indian oil and gas firms: Top legislator

Vietnam creates optimal conditions for Indian companies to continue their long-term operations and expand investment in energy and oil and gas exploration and production in the country’s continental shelf and exclusive economic zone, Vietnamese National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue affirmed on December 17.

At a reception in New Delhi for AK Gupta, Managing Director & CEO of ONGC Videsh, an international petroleum company of India and an overseas arm of Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Hue highlighted the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and India in different spheres, from politics, diplomacy and national defence and security, to economy, trade, investment, education-training, culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange.

Collaboration in energy and oil and gas exploration and exploitation is a key sector in the bilateral economic, trade and investment ties, he said, lauding the initial presence and successes of the corporation in Vietnam.

The top legislator expressed his hope that apart from oil and gas, Indian investments will be pumped into new fields, to bring two-way trade to 15 billion USD in the time ahead.

Vietnam commits to protecting interests of investors in line with legal regulations, he said, informing Gupta that the Vietnamese legislature will consider amending and supplementing the Oil and Gas Law to create a more favourable legal environment for the development of the industry.

For his part, Gupta said his corporation has maintained close cooperation with Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam), and thanked Vietnam for its support to ONGC.

He also raised several petitions and noted his wish to continue long-term investment and business activities in Vietnam.

Source: VNA