(VNF) - Vice President of the Vietnam-India Friendship Association (VIFA) Ha Minh Hue hosted a delegation from the Indian Society for Cultural Cooperation and Friendship (ISCUF) led by its Vice President Pujari Gobardhan in Hanoi on January 25^th.

The VIFA’s delegation including 11 inpiduals, are in Hanoi from January 24^th to 29^th.

The people-to-people diplomatic activities, especially the Vietnam-India friendship festival, have helped bolster friendship between Vietnam and India, said Vice President Hue on behalf of VUFO leaders and VIFA President.

VIFA Vice President Ha Minh Hue (R) and ISCUF Vice President Pujari Gobardhan. (Photo: Phuong Mai/VNF)

He held that the promotion of the Vietnam-India to comprehensive strategic partnership has facilitated the friendship, cooperation and people-to-people diplomatic activities between the two sides.

The visit to Vietnam aims to implement a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on cooperation for the 2017-2022 signed between the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and the ISCUF in June 2017 on promoting cooperation between the two countries in politics, economy, culture, tourism, science-technology and people-to-people exchange, thereby introducing and helping Indian friends better understand the country and people of Vietnam.

He highlighted the traditional relations between Vietnam and India, saying that the two nations have always supported and assisted each other in their past struggles for national liberation as well as current processes of national construction.

The Vietnam-India Friendship Association has paid much attention to expand friendship and collaboration with India, while maintaining sound relations with the Indian Embassy in Vietnam, and coordinate with the Indian side in organising people-to-people diplomatic activities, thus strengthening friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples, he said.

For his part, ISCUF Vice President Pujari Gorbardhan expressed his admiration for leader Ho Chi Minh was not only a pioneer in anti-colonialism, but also an inspiration for democracy and freedom for the India people and the working people worldwide in general.

Visiting Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and the Presidential Palace will be an opportunity for the delegates to understand more about the life and career as well as the reasons for President Ho Chi Minh's inspirational struggle for liberty and independence. Gobardhan once again expressed his admiration for Vietnam - a small country manage to defeat the major imperialist powers.

He briefed his host that ISCUF was established to increase co-operation in all fields between India and all friendly countries for mutual benefit and on the basis of equality and respect for each other’s sovereignty and inde­pendence; promoting closer cultural relations and all friendship between the peoples of India and friendly countries, with a view to fur­thering mutual understanding and goodwill; and national integration communal harmony and unity of Indian people.

In the struggle for national liberation, the ISCUF supported Vietnam both physically and mentally. The ISCUF held conferences, seminars, demonstrations against U.S. imperialism; at the same time transporting medicines and essential goods to Vietnam during the war.

Indian Society for Cultural Cooperation and Friendship delegation takes a picture with leaders of the Vietnam-India Friendship Association. (Photo: Phuong Mai/VNF)

Vice President Gobardhan pledged that his organisation will continue assisting Vietnam during its national construction and defence, showing his belief that the Vietnam-India friendship will continue to thrive.

Within the framework of the Indian delegation, they will visit Ninh Binh and Quang Ninh provinces to work with the Vietnam-India Friendship Associations of the localities on expanding exchanges and cooperation between the two sides./.

Translated by Chau Pham