Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc gives a souvenir to outgoing Indian Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish during a reception in Hà Nội on Monday. — VNA/VNS Photo Thống Nhất

HÀ NỘI — Prime Minister Nguyễn Xuân Phúc suggested that Việt Nam and India step up their trade ties during his reception for outgoing Indian Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish in Hà Nội on Monday. 

PM Phúc urged India to facilitate the penetration of Vietnamese fruits into the Indian market and expressed his wish that more Indian groups and investors would invest in Việt Nam. 
The Vietnamese Government would create favourable conditions for foreign investors, including those from India, he pledged. 
Besides, Việt Nam and India should beef up bilateral cooperation in national defence, the PM said. 
He applauded Ambassador Parvathaneni’s trips to 26 Vietnamese cities and provinces to seek cooperation opportunities between localities of the two countries, thus promoting the bilateral relationship and people-to-people exchanges. 
PM Phúc hoped that the ambassador, in any position, would make more significant contributions to Việt Nam-India relations. 
For his part, Parvathaneni expressed his delight at the growth of two-way trade, which exceeded US$10 billion in 2018, doubling the turnover recorded in 2016. 
The diplomat also hoped for stronger trade ties between Việt Nam and India, and the promotion of Vietnamese farm produce and fruits in the Indian market. 
He affirmed India’s support for Việt Nam as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term. — VNS