The Can Tho City Union of Friendship Organizations and the city's Vietnam-India Friendship Association held a get-together on September 29 evening in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic ties.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thuc Hien presents flowers to the Indian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Madan Mohan Sethi. Photo: VNT

The event aimed to popularize the significance and importance of maintaining and consolidating the traditional friendship and strategic partnership between Vietnam and India to local people, especially the young generation.

Speaking at the meeting, Nguyen Doi Hien, vice chairman of Can Tho City People's Committee, emphasized that India and Vietnam have a long-standing traditional historical relationship, built and nurtured by President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, two outstanding leaders of the two Asian nations. Over time, this relationship has grown stronger, allowing the two countries to collaborate on different business ventures and special projects.

Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thuc Hien delivers his speech at the event. Photo: VNT

On this occasion, the leaders of Can Tho city also thanked the Government of India for actively supporting Can Tho city with many practical programs and activities such as International Yoga Day in Can Tho City, Economic and Technical Cooperation Program (ITEC DAY); support and provide training scholarships for students and officials of the city; coordinate in organizing cultural exchange activities and people-to-people diplomacy.

Indian Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Madan Mohan Sethi said that the bilateral multi-faceted cooperation has been developing well. Two-way trade increased from USD 200 million in 2000 to USD 12.04 billion in 2019 but decreased to over USD 10 billion in 2020-2021 due to the impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic.

The two nations are striving to raise the figure to USD 14 billion, he added.

Giving flowers to show gratitude for the contributions of the Executive Committee of the Vietnam - India Friendship Association in Can Tho City after nearly 30 years of construction and development. Photo: VNT

Thanking the friendship organizations for hosting such gather, the diplomat affirmed his commitment to continue to maintain and develop good friendships and partnerships with all provinces and cities in Vietnam, including Can Tho city to boost the prosperous development of Vietnam - India ties.

Huynh Van Nghiep, president of the Can Tho's Vietnam-India Friendship Association, said that the association has coordinated closely with the Indian Consulate General in organizing a wide range of economic and cultural cooperation activities and people-to-people exchanges.

During the Covid-19 outbreak in India, agencies in the Mekong Delta city called on organizations and individuals to help the Indian people combat the pandemic, while Can Tho received much assistance from India in the fields of agriculture and information technology, he highlighted, adding that these activities have contributed to developing the bilateral friendship.

At the meeting, in order to recognize the contributions of collectives and individuals in organizing the International Yoga Day in Can Tho City over the past time, the President of the Can Tho Union of Friendship Organisations presented certificates of merit to the collectives and individuals for their contributions to the success of the International Yoga Day in the city.

Le Thi Thanh Giang, president of the Union of Friendship Organizations of Can Tho City, awards certificates of merit to collectives and individuals for their activities that contributed to the success of the International Yoga Day in Can Tho city. Photo: VNT

On the same day, the Indian Consul General was received by Vice Chairman of the municipal People’s Committee Nguyen Thuc Hien who affirmed that the municipal authorities and people always consider the traditional friendship and solidarity with the Indian people an important factor in international relations for the national safeguarding and development cause of the two countries.

Can Tho Friendship Union, Youth Plant Trees to Prevent Landslides The Can Tho Union of Friendship Organizations has been planting trees to limit the increasing risk of landslides in the city.

Promoting Culture through 2022 Vietnam Days Abroad Vietnam Days Abroad is an annual national promotion program hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs since 2010.

Indian Minister: Ho Chi Minh City among the Region's Fastest Growing Groups There is plenty of room for Vietnam and India, as well as Ho Chi Minh City and its Indian partners, to beef up cooperation.