National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân meets with Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi last Saturday. — VNA/VNS Photo Trọng Đức

NEW DELHI — Việt Nam fully supports India’s Act East Policy and the country’s increased presence and connection in Southeast Asia, says National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân.

Meeting with the Indian President Pranab Mukherjee in New Delhi last Saturday, she hailed India’s stand on East Sea-related issues.

She said Việt Nam appreciates President Mukherjee’s statement that India considers Việt Nam an important pillar of his country’s Act East Policy. India also considers Việt Nam a strategic partner in the ASEAN region, the President had said.

Ngân praised the Indian President’s contributions to strengthening friendship between two countries. She hoped he would continue to further promote bilateral relations, including links between the Vietnamese and Indian legislatures. This would benefit the peoples of both countries and promote peace, development and prosperity in the region and the world, she said.

President Mukherjee said India and Việt Nam need to boost economic ties through promoting trade exchanges and creating favourable conditions for investors of both nations, lifting two-way trade to US$15 billion by 2020.

The President hoped that the Vietnamese Government and National Assembly will encourage Vietnamese firms to join the “Make in India” campaign launched by the Indian Government as well as the nation’s digital revolution.

The two countries should also enhance co-operation in energy, especially nuclear, renewable and environmentally- friendly energy production, he said.

The Indian President reiterated India’s view on the East Sea issue, saying that India backs non-militarisation, full respect for legal and diplomatic processes, and the settlement of disputes through peaceful measures in line with international law. India is opposed to the use of force and the threat to use force to solve disputes in the sea, he added.

Chairwoman Ngân also met with representatives from the India Fund in New Delhi on Saturday.

She expressed her hope that the two countries will expand co-operation in new fields including hi-tech developments, the use of renewable energy and power-saving equipment, as well as the use of nuclear energy and outer space studies for peaceful purposes.

Parliamentary links

In talks held on Friday, Chairwoman Ngân and Speaker of India’s Lower House, Sumitra Mahajan, agreed on the need to enhance parliamentary relations. 
They said this can be done by increased exchanges in lawmaking, including stepped-up interaction among parliamentary friendship groups and other agencies. 
Both sides should step up co-ordination in supervising and promoting effective implementation of high-level agreements signed, especially in politics, economics, defence and security, trade and investment, science and technology, culture and education. 
Ngân said the two nations need to foster high-level visits between parliamentary agencies, parliamentary friendship groups, and parliamentarians to deepen mutual trust and understanding while exchanging experiences in lawmaking and supervision. 
Echoing Ngân’s view, Mahajan said economic and trade links between the two nations can develop more strongly. They can also expand partnership in many other areas like education, culture and archaeology, she said. 
Following their talks, Chairwoman Ngân and Speaker Mahajan witnessed the signing of a co-operation agreement between the Vietnamese National Assembly and India’s Lok Sabha (Lower House), and another one on co-operation in the peaceful use of atomic energy. 
A memorandum of understanding between the Việt Nam Atomic Energy Institute and India’s Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership, and another on opening a Việt Nam-India air route between Vietjet Air and Indian carriers were also inked in their presence. 

Also on Friday, Ngân met with Indian Vice President and Chairman of the Senate Mohammad Hamid Ansari at the latter’s residence.
The same day, Việt Nam’s top legislator met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who reiterated his support for Indian investors doing business in Việt Nam.

He recalled his visit to Việt Nam in September 2016 and said Indian firms are impressed with the investment environment in the Southeast Asian country. 
On the East Sea issue, PM Modi confirmed that India advocates the settlement of disputes via peaceful means on the basis of international law. — VNS