NEW DELHI — President Trần Đại Quang met with Speaker of the Lower House of India’s Parliament Sumitra Mahajan, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj and former President of the Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi in New Delhi on March 3.

The meetings formed part of President Quang’s State visit to India from March 2-4.

Meeting with Speaker Sumitra Mahajan, President Quang asked the legislative agencies of Việt Nam and India to enhance cooperation, especially organising mutual high-level visits, promote exchanges between their committees, parliamentary friendship groups, and people’s friendship organisations.

Speaker Sumitra Mahajan said she was impressed with Việt Nam’s achievements in national development, affirming that she would continue cooperating closely with the National Assembly of Việt Nam to help tighten bilateral connections.

Talking to Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, the Vietnamese leader congratulated India on its diplomatic achievements while highly valuing the two foreign ministries’ role in bolstering their countries’ ties.

He asked the Indian ministry to promote high-ranking visits between the countries, maintain bilateral cooperation mechanisms, and speed up the signing of cooperation documents and implementation of the signed agreements by Indian ministries and sectors.

Minister Swaraj said her country welcomed President Quang’s State visit, which she said demonstrated the traditional friendship between the two countries. She pledged to work with the Vietnamese Ministry of Foreign Affairs to foster bilateral relations.

At the meeting with former President of the Indian National Congress Sonia Gandhi, President Quang emphasised that Việt Nam and India boast a long-standing friendship, which was founded by late President Hồ Chí Minh and late Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and had been nurtured by generations of the countries’ leaders and people.

"Việt Nam always keeps in mind the precious assistance that the Indian people, including the Indian National Congress, gave to its struggle for national liberation in the past and national development at present," he said, asking the party to continue supporting the Việt Nam – Indian comprehensive strategic partnership.

Sonia Gandhi noted the Indian National Congress always treasured and supported the time-honoured friendship between the two countries.

Later on March 3, President Quang and his spouse attended the opening ceremony of the Vietnamese culture days in India. The event is part of a series of activities marking the 45th founding anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties. It is also an activity concluding the Việt Nam – India Friendship Year 2017. — VNS