Ambassador Pranay Verma delivered a speech at the ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam - India's establishment of diplomatic relations. (Photo: VUFO)

A ceremony to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Vietnam - India's establishment of diplomatic relations was held by the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations (VUFO) in Hanoi on Jan. 6. On this occasion, Vietnam Times was honored to have an interview with Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of India to Vietnam Pranay Verma:

"Diplomatic relation between India and Vietnam was established in 1972. The last 50 years have marked Vietnam's remarkable journey of togetherness and both India and Vietnam have overcome adversities to pursue national construction and socio-economic transformation," said the ambassador.

Over the past 50 years, India and Vietnam have enjoyed excellent relations with the tradition of helping each other in difficult times, showing sensitivity to each other, and supporting each other, he emphasized.

Regarding the two countries' people-to-people diplomacy, the ambassador said people in India and Vietnam always had sentiments for each other. People in India admire Vietnam for the country's courage, determination, and what the Vietnamese people have overcome to build a modern and independent nation.

He cited Nguyen Manh Hung, President of the Vietnam - India Friendship Association, who said the motto "Our name, your name [is] Vietnam," chanted by Indian friends during their protests in support of the Vietnamese people's righteous struggle had become an everlasting symbol of the Vietnam - India solidarity and friendship. According to the ambassador, the motto shows the long-standing affection between the Vietnamese and Indian citizens.

Ambassador Pranay Verma during the interview with VietnamTimes. (Photo: Ollie Le Nguyen)

To further promote people-to-people exchange between the two countries in the coming time, the ambassador said the focus should be placed on tourism and travel activities.

"We need to promote tourism and travel between our two countries, to foster the positive sentiment that have already existed between people of India and Vietnam. I find the Vietnamese people very friendly and positive toward India but they have not traveled to India so much, so one of the focuses in our future work is promoting travel and tourism," the Indian diplomat said.

2022 marks the 50th anniversary of India - Vietnam's relations, also the 75th anniversary of Indian independence. On such occasions, webinars and seminars to promote tourism exchanges are planned to be promoted by the Indian embassy.

Cultural similarities between the two countries form a bridge to connect the two peoples. To raise public awareness of this bond, the cultural center under the Indian embassy regularly organizes these programs, such as exhibitions, cultural performances, dance performances.

Vietnamese Vice President Vo Thi Anh Xuan and Indian Ambassador Pranay Verma entered the ceremony. (Photo: VNS)

"I think all these activities are helping the people to understand the cultural connection that has long existed between the two countries," said the ambassador.

"Buddhism is the common link between us, so we are going to have programs focus on this shared heritage. Our cultural conservation works, for example, the one we are doing in My Son in Quang Nam province are very instrumental in bringing our people to appreciate the rich cultural bond that connects us."

In his earlier speech at the event, ambassador Pranay Verma sent his thank to the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam - India Friendship Association for hosting a celebration to mark an important milestone in the relations between India and Vietnam.

"Vietnam Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam - India Friendship Association has always been at the forefront of building a stronger friendship between the people of India and Vietnam. We pride ourselves in cooperating with them to promote the important relations between our two countries," he said.

For the new year, as the two countries celebrate the 50th anniversary, Ambassador Pranay Verma hopes the close bilateral friendship would become stronger and reach a greater height.

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