PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng embarks on State visit to India

Right after a solemn welcoming ceremony, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng, his wife and the Vietnamese delegation laid a wreath at the Monument of President Hồ Chí Minh – a world cultural celebrity and Việt Nam's national hero who, together with Indian PM J. Nehru, laid foundation for the long-lasting friendship and cooperation between Việt Nam and India.

In early 1958, President Hồ Chí Minh paid a visit to India with a view to developing a bilateral close relationship and making the Indian people better understand Việt Nam's situation. During the period of 1964-1975, Kolkata City was full of the motto “My name is Việt Nam, your name is Việt Nam, our name is Việt Nam”, confirming its solidarity and support to the Vietnamese people in the struggle for national salvation and reunification. When President Hồ Chí Minh passed away in 1969, Kolkata people organized a solemn commemoration of Him.

Later, at ITC Sonar Bangla Hotel, while receiving Chief Minister of West Bengal Buddhaded Bhattacharya, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng emphasized that the Vietnamese Government and people will never forget the valuable support from the Indian people in general and West Bengal in particular. The Government leader extended his congratulation to the Communist Party of India (Marxist) (CPI-M) for its leadership in West Bengal for the past 30 years, with many considerable achievements in all fields.

The Chief Minister highly spoke of PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng's stop in West Bengal in his India tour. He stressed that West Bengal has established a close relation with Việt Nam. The Chief Minister himself has paid three visits to Việt Nam, during which he witnessed many great progresses gained by Việt Nam in her cause of renovation. This eastern state of 80 million people, which provides 4 percent of the country's total rice yield, has many potentialities to deepen cooperation with Việt Nam in agriculture. The Chief Minister asked Việt Nam to cooperate West Bengal in aquaculture and milk industry. He also welcomed Vietnamese businesses to participate in the annual trade fair held by the state's chamber of commerce.

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng affirmed that Việt Nam is always willing to cooperate and welcomes the Indian enterprises to do business in Việt Nam, especially in information technology and steel production.

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng also had a cordial reception to the delegation of the India-Việt Nam Friendship Assocation (IVFA). The IVFA President highlighted the deep relationship between West Bengal and Việt Nam, adding that Kolkata is the only city in India where a monument dedicated to President Hồ Chí Minh was built and the Avenue along which the West Bengal people marched to support Việt Nam’s struggle for national salvation was named after the President. The IVFA delegation included many businessmen and senior officials. The IVFA is organizing numerous trips to search for business opportunities in Việt Nam in July, the IVFA President revealed.

The IVFA presented PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng some books on Việt Nam translated into English and Pali languages by the IVFA Presidents and members. Deeply moved at Indian friends’ sentiments, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng pledged to do his utmost to bring the good relationship between the two countries to a new plane, for the sake of the two peoples’ interest as well as peace and prosperity in the region.

In the same morning, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng attended and opened the India-Việt NamBusiness Forum held in Kolkata City. The PM briefed Việt Nam’s achievements in the cause of renovation, asserting that Việt Nam is now an attractive destination for foreign investors. PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng emphasized that the Vietnamese State and Government always welcome and provide favorable conditions for investors from West Bengal.

In the afternoon of July 04, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng and his entourage visited the Tata Group, one of the most prestigeous economic groups in India, with 96 company members and a lot of subsidiaries, engaging in seven fields: information–telecommunication, engineering, material, services, energy, consumer goods and chemicals. The group is now operating in 54 countries and exporting its products and services to 120 countries and territories.

Tata is interested in seeking for investment chances in Việt Nam. Recently, many Tata delegations have entered Việt Nam. At present, Tata is promoting the plan to open its representative office in Việt Nam. Tata Steel, a component of the group, pays attention to exploiting iron mines and building a steel conjunction at Thạch Khê (Hà Tĩnh Province in Central Việt Nam).

On July 5, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng plans to open the Việt Nam-India Business Forum in Mumbai City, the capital of Maharastra State, visit the Knowledge City Information Technology Complex, and receive the Chief Minister of Maharastra.

By Xuân Hồng