PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng puts eye on closer ties with India

PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng in the interview before his upcoming visit to India - Photo: VNGOP

Answering the question about the Vietnam-India friendship over the past time, the Government leader stressed that the two countries have built up and maintained their close ties through the age-old historical links in culture, religion and trade. The bilateral relationship, which was forged by late President Hồ Chí Minh, Indian PM Jawaharlal Nehru, has been constantly nurtured and developed by the two countries’ leaders and peoples. The PM recalled India's great and effective supports to Vietnam during her struggle for national independence and reunification.

“It is possible to say that the Indian Government and people's invaluable help for Vietnam is a good foundation for the two countries to develop a sustainable and good relationship” PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng emphasized. He expressed his deep gratitude to the Indian Government and people for their supports to Vietnam.  

Assessing the bilateral trade ties, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng stated that an increase of two-way trade turnover between Vietnam and India from US$ 75 million in 1995 to over US$ 1 billion in 2006 is very impressive, with an average growth rate of nearly 20 per cent annually. Vietnam is now the biggest ASEAN member who attracts Indian investors. India’s direct investment in Vietnam reached US$ 600 million in 2006 and reached a breakthrough in 2007 with steel projects by the Essar and Tata conglomerates. These have placed India in the group of top-ten investors in Vietnam.  

According to the PM, those achievements are not corresponding to the two countries' strengths. So, Vietnam and India should do their best to promote trade and investment cooperation for the common interests.

“India is a big country emerging in all fields and obtaining a higher and higher position in the regional and international arenas. Vietnam welcomes and supports India's "Look East" policy”, said PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng while replying Indian reporters' request for the PM's recommendation on India's role.

Mentioning the India-US negotiation for an agreement on nuclear energy for civil purposes, the Government chief emphasized that Vietnam supports all researches and applications of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes and human development. Vietnam wants to cooperate with India in this field to serve economic development and healthcare applications, the PM said.

Replying the question about Vietnam's collaboration with India in searching and developing new energies, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng made a clear statement that Vietnam willingly welcomes Indian investors to engage in exploring, exploiting and importing coal and crude oil from Vietnam as well as building power plants in Vietnam.

About the projects on railways and roads between Vietnam and China and a future route from New Delhi to Hanoi, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng asserted that, as good neighbors with traditional friendship, Vietnam and China both expect to speed up their cooperation in all fields. As a part of the project "Two corridors, one economic belt”, Vietnam and China are constructing some road and railway routes to form a railway network linking Vietnam, China and India as well as the three countries and other ASEAN nations.

The PM highlighted tourism as a potential area for the Vietnam-India cooperation, revealing that the two countries are negotiating to sign a tourism cooperation pact soon.

With regard to bilateral cooperation on international forums, the Government leader confirmed Vietnam's support and effective collaboration with India on many multilateral arenas, including the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), and Asia Europe Meeting (ASEM). Vietnam commits its total support for India's bid for a permanent seat of the expanded UN Security Council and the participation in ASEM, APEC, East Asia Summit, ASEM-India, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng stressed, adding that Vietnam is ready to be the bridge for India and ASEM.

Through the media, PM Nguyễn Tấn Dũng also conveyed his message to the Indian Government and people: “My upcoming visit to India aims to discuss with Indian leaders the solutions in order to bring the Vietnam-India cooperation and friendship to new plane in all fields, especially economy, trade, investment, education-training, and science-technology, for the sake of our mutual benefits, development and prosperity in each country, the region and the world”./.

By Xuân Hồng