HÀ NỘI — There is plenty of room for expanding co-operation in science-technology, culture, tourism, and people-to-people exchange between Việt Nam and India, however the two sides should establish appropriate mechanisms to facilitate them, said Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc on Tuesday.

Phúc made the remarks while receiving Indian Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj, who is in Hà Nội for the 16th Meeting of the Việt Nam-India Joint Committee on Economic, Commercial, Scientific, and Technological Co-operation.

Việt Nam treasures the friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India and hopes to deepen bilateral ties in all areas, the PM said, adding that he highly values the results of the previous meeting between Swaraj and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Phạm Bình Minh.

He asked Swaraj to help maintain the political trust between the two countries and foster Việt Nam-India co-operation in multiple fields, particularly defence and security – a pillar of bilateral relations, economics, and trade. He hoped the two sides would go on to discuss ways to reduce trade barriers and that more large corporations from India will be investing in Việt Nam in power, renewable energy, and oil and gas exploitation.

He also urged the two sides to closely coordinate and support each other at regional and international forums and, at the same time, expressed his support for India’s “Act East” policy. 

Việt Nam hopes India will support ASEAN’s centrality in regional architecture and speak up for the maintenance of security, safety, freedom of navigation and aviation and law respect, and trade, including the settlement of disputes via peaceful means on the basis of international law, the Vietnamese leader said.

The Indian FM, for her part, said she is impressed with Việt Nam’s socio-economic development in recent years and is pleased to see the two nations’ Comprehensive Strategic Partnership growing, bringing real benefit to their peoples.

Swaraj said India wants to further intensify its multi-faceted partnership with Việt Nam with a special focus on economics, trade, investment, science-technology, security-defence, and people-to-people exchange, thereby contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the region and across the globe. — VNS