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Nov 16, 2018 / 09:07

Indian president's Vietnam visit to open up opportunities for both countries: Ambassador

Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Parvathaneni Harish said that Vietnam and India have close ties in many fields, including defense, economy, people-to-people exchange and culture.

Ambassador of India to Vietnam, Parvathaneni Harish has shared his view with Hanoitimes about the visit by Indian President Ram Nath Kovind on November 18-20.
 
Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Parvathaneni Harish. Photo: Ha Phuong
Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Parvathaneni Harish. Photo: Ha Phuong
Mr. Ambassador, could you share the meaning and purposes of the state visit?
This is the first visit to Southeast Asia by Ram Nath Kovind as President of India. This also is the deepest demonstration of Vietnam's importance in India's East Vision and symbolizes a further strengthening of the traditional friendship marked by deep trust and support of each other.
The relationship between Vietnam and India is a comprehensive strategic partnership, the exchange of high-level delegations between the two countries is extremely important. In 2018, there were two high-level visits by Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the late President Tran Dai Quang to India in January and March. In that process, this visit to Vietnam Indian President is a new development to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
This is also an opportunity for Indian leaders to have an exchange with Nguyen Phu Trong as General Secretary and President. Party General Secretary and President Nguyen Phu Trong is one of India's longtime friends with two visits to India in 2010 as President of the National Assembly and in 2013 as General Secretary.
During this visit a number of memoranda will be signed, including a memorandum of understanding between the Ministry of Communications of India and the Ministry of Information and Communications of Vietnam, a memorandum between Nehru University and the Ho Chi Minh Academy of Politics, a memorandum of understanding between the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and the Indian Chamber of Commerce, etc.
Following the State visit of President of India Ram Nath Kovind to Vietnam, an 80-member  business delegations will attend the Vietnam - India Business Forum on November 19, so what do you expect from this forum?
Economic and trade relations between Vietnam and India are one of the pillars of a comprehensive strategic partnership. Senior leaders have set a target of US$15 billion by 2020. At present, the trade balance of the two countries has reached nearly US$13 billion.
I hope these activities can help bilateral trade turnover reach the target of US$15 billion by 2020. Vietnam is one of India's important economic partners in ASEAN. The India Business Forum - India is an opportunity for Indian businesses to meet and discuss with Vietnamese businesses, and find opportunities for further development in economic cooperation between the two countries.
Can you share the opinion on the investment environment of Vietnam?
The investment market in Vietnam is one of the attractive markets, Vietnam has also signed many trade agreements with other economic sectors in the world, so it can be said in the future Vietnam and India, there will be many opportunities to cooperate.
Thank you very much!