National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (right) and visiting Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha (the lower house) Om Birla. Photo: VNA

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue held talks with visiting Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha (the lower house) Om Birla in Hanoi on April 19 following an official welcome ceremony for the guest, VietnamPlus reported.

The NA leader lauded the Indian legislator's visit, especially when Vietnam and India are celebrating the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

He expressed delight at the growing strategic partnership between the two countries across all fields. Despite the adverse impacts of Covid-19, both sides have maintained and reinforced important cooperation mechanisms, while working together to implement the Action Plan for the 2021-2023 period to make bilateral ties more practical and effective.

Hue noted that amid changing world and regional situations, Vietnam and Indian are sharing many common viewpoints and strategic interests. The Vietnamese NA is willing to discuss and share experience in areas of shared concern, he said.

For his part, the Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha recalled the success of the Vietnamese top legislator’s official visit to India last December and suggested that the two parliaments should discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in many areas such as social welfare and issues related to the people, thus contributing to the promotion of the partnership between the two countries.

Noting that Vietnam and India share many similarities in development targets, Birla proposed that both sides strengthen cooperation in the areas of trade, investment, science, technology, service, digital transformation, while fostering ties between business communities, and making information technology and service a strategic sector in bilateral partnership.

National Assembly (NA) Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue (right) and visiting Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha (the lower house) Om Birla. Photo: Duy Linh

Vietnam considers India a global power and supports India's greater role in multilateral institutions and in maintaining and ensuring a multi-polar world order based on international law, NA Chairman Hue said, adding that Vietnam backs India to become a permanent member of the UN Security Council when the council is expanded. Vietnam also supports India to join the APEC forum, and welcomes India's Act East policy as well as its deeper engagement in ASEAN-led mechanisms.

Discussing a number of international and regional issues of shared concern, the two legislative leaders agreed on the significance of maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, development and respect to international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982 with regard to the South China Sea (Bien Dong Sea).

Over the Ukrainian situation, they underscored the importance of respecting international law, and voiced the hope that all relevant parties promote dialogue, and negotiations on the foundation of respect for the legitimate interest of all sides in line with international law, ensuring the safety of civilians and settling humanitarian matters.

The Vietnamese top legislator proposed that India support Vietnam's bid to run for seats in the UN Human Rights Council (2023-2025 tenure), the Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf (2023-2028 tenure), and the Legal and Technical Commission (2023-2027 tenure).

Regarding parliamentarian cooperation, the two leaders concurred to continue strengthening meetings and exchanges between friendship parliamentarians’ groups as well as collaboration among functional committees of the two parliaments, while sharing experience in law building, election inspections and supervision, and promoting coordination at regional and international forums, including the IPU and APPF. They pledged to promote international cooperation to cope with Covid-19, speed up economic recovery and develop green and sustainable development and innovation.

Chairman Hue said Vietnam is interested in building and completing institutions for digital transformation and the shaping of global order based on international law and respect for the right to self-determination and sovereignty of states.

He suggested that the two parliaments work to speed up the implementation of signed agreements and treaties and coordinate organize activities marking the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic relations in 2022.

He noted that after his visit to India, he had asked the Government to work with India to promptly implement the agreements reached during the visit. One of the results is that an Indian firm has chosen Hai Duong province of Vietnam to develop a pharmaceutical park project worth about 12 billion USD.

Hue took the occasion to invite Vice President and Chairman of the Upper House of India Venkaial Naidu to visit Vietnam.

Indian lower house speaker meets with President

At the meeting between President Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha (the lower house) Om Birla. Photo: Nhan dan (People) newspaper

The same day, the Indian lower house speaker was received by President Nguyen Xuan Phuc, who said Vietnam and India are enjoying advantages to further promote their comprehensive strategic partnership, VOV said.

President Phuc said India is a world power with the 6th largest economy and advanced science and technology while Vietnam is a dynamic developing country integrating aggressively into the world.

He suggested both countries boost cooperation in defense-security, intelligence, cybersecurity, anti-terrorism, non-traditional security issues, among others.

President Phuc asked for further opening of farm produce markets and greater cooperation in tourism recovery including the resumption of direct flights.

Speaker Om Birla said that the 2 countries should expand cooperation in trade, investment, defense, and security.

Vietnam, India target US$15 billion in trade

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Speaker of the Indian Lok Sabha (the lower house) Om Birla. Photo: VGP

During a meeting with the visiting Indian lower house speaker, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh suggested India create maximum conditions for bilateral trade, especially for Vietnam’s electronic products, textiles, and farm produce to enter India.

Chinh affirmed that Vietnam always welcomes and creates favourable conditions for Indian businesses to boost investment in pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, processing and manufacturing, information and biotechnology, renewable energy, high-tech agriculture, and innovation in Vietnam.

He noted that despite Covid-19, two-way trade between Vietnam and India recorded a strong growth of 37% year-on-year in 2021, reaching more than $13.2 billion.

The two sides should continue to maintain cooperation mechanisms and further promote collaboration in defence - security, culture, tourism, education and training, digital transformation, energy transformation, climate change response, and maritime and oil and gas cooperation, Chinh stressed.

The Indian parliament leader said that he hopes two-way trade will soon reach $15 billion. Indian investors have high expectations for investment in Vietnam, he said, adding that India will continue to help Vietnam in improving the quality of human resources, and restoring and preserving cultural heritages./.

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