Vietnamese Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh meets Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu in New Delhi on Wednesday.— Photo baoquocte.vn

NEW DEHLI — Vietnamese Vice President Đặng Thị Ngọc Thịnh and Indian Vice President Venkaiah Naidu affirmed that they attach great importance to the long-standing friendship between the two countries during their talks in New Delhi on Wednesday.

They said the bilateral political trust has been reinforced through the maintenance of annual high-level visits.

The two sides discussed measures to further promote the comprehensive strategic partnership between Việt Nam and India, especially in key pillars such as national defence, security, economy, trade, investment, science-technology and people-to-people exchanges.

They expressed their satisfaction over the development of bilateral economic and trade ties, and agreed to realise the two-way trade target of US$15 billion this year.

The host and guest deliberated specific measures in bilateral trade cooperation and assigned relevant ministries and departments to remove existing technical problems.

The launch of direct air routes between the two countries' cities on the same day will facilitate trade activities, tourism and people-to-people exchanges, they said.

They agreed to strengthen coordination at regional and international forums, and promote peace and stability in the East Sea based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Vice President Thịnh thanked the Indian government and people for supporting Việt Nam over the past years as well as when Việt Nam assumes its role of ASEAN Chair in 2020 and a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for 2020-21.

Vice President Thịnh is on an official visit to India from February 11 to 13. — VNS