Indian Prime Minister Vajpayee visits Vietnam
Ha Noi, Jan. 8 (VNA) -- A State ceremony was held in the morning, Jan. 8, to welcome Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, who arrived in Ha Noi on Jan. 7 to begin his four-day official visit to Viet Nam.
The Indian Prime Minister was welcomed by Prime Minister Phan Van Khai, Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien, Science, Technology and Environment Minister Chu Tuan Nha, Agriculture and Rural Development Minister Le Huy Ngo and Ha Noi People's Committee Chairman Hoang Van Nghien.
After the welcoming ceremony, the two prime ministers witnessed a signing ceremony of cooperation documents including a protocol for extending the cultural cooperation programme between 2001 and 2003, a memorandum of understanding for atomic energy cooperation for peace, and a tourism agreement.
During their meeting with a delegation of Vietnamese youth, who will take part in the Viet Nam-India cultural exchange programme in 2001, the Indian Prime Minister said that young people should strive to realise the dream of peace, stability, cooperation and friendship.
In the afternoon, PM Vajpayee received Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien.
Later, the two prime ministers met with domestic and international media workers at the International Conference Centre.
Prime Minister Khai emphasised that the Viet Nam visit by the Indian Prime Minister would continue traditional relations and strengthen the close trust multifaceted cooperation between the two countries.
The Indian Prime Minister expressed his pleasure at the results of his working sessions with Viet Nam's leaders. He said India was always ready to share its experience with Viet Nam in information technology and pharmacy and hoped that the two countries would tighten cooperation at multilateral forums such as South-South cooperation, the ASEAN Regional Forum and the United Nations.
In the evening of the same day, Prime Minister Khai held a banquet in honour of the Indian PM and his entourage. At the banquet were Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien, Science, Technology and Environment Minister Chu Tuan Nha and other senior Vietnamese officials.--VNA
VIET NAM TO SUPPORT INDIA FOR UN SECURITY COUNCIL
Ha Noi, Jan. 8 (VNA) -- Viet Nam would support India's efforts to join the United Nations Security Council and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) forum, Viet Nam's Prime Minister Phan Van Khai told visiting Indian Prime Minister A. B. Vajpayee in Ha Noi on Jan. 8.
Both Prime Ministers expressed their pleasure at the fine development of the friendly and multi-faceted cooperation between the two countries, especially after the visit to India by President Tran Duc Luong in December, 1999. They agreed to deepen and broaden bilateral cooperation in the near future.
The prime ministers affirmed that both countries would enhance their coordination in regional and international forums, including the Non-Aligned Movement, South-South ooperation, the Post Ministerial Conference of the Association of SoutheastAsian Nations (ASEAN) and the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and in so doing contribute to peace, stability and development in the Asia-Pacific region and the world.
Viet Nam in its capacity as ASEAN President welcomed India's intention to strengthen cooperation with ASEAN and the relationship between the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and ASEAN.
The two prime ministers agreed that the Viet Nam visit by Prime Minister Vajpayee would make an important contributions to furthering the bilateral relationship to the mutual benefit of both peoples and peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
Vajpayee invited Phan Van Khai to visit India and the latter accepted with pleasure. The prime ministers assigned their foreign ministries to arrange the visit.
VIET NAM ALWAYS ATTACHES IMPORTANCE TO TRADITIONAL TIES WITH INDIA, SAYS PRESIDENT
Ha Noi, Jan. 8 (VNA) -- Viet Nam had always attached importance to its age-old traditional friendship and cooperation with India, President Tran Duc Luong said during his reception for visiting Indian Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee in Ha Noi afternoon, Jan. 8.
President Luong said that such a relationship, built and fostered by President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister J. Nehru, was forever developing.
The President welcomed the Indian PM's visit, describing it as a manifestation of new steps in the development of Viet Nam-India friendship and cooperation.
President Luong expressed his belief that the beneficial results of the talks between Prime Ministers Phan Van Khai and A. B. Vajpayee and the cooperation documents signed during the Indian Prime Minister's visit would create favourable conditions for the two countries to continue expanding and increasing the efficiency of their cooperation and in particular boost cooperation in investment, commerce, science and technology.
All this would be conmensurate with potential and aspirations of both countries and legitimately benefit both nations, thus contributing to peace, stability, cooperation and development in the Asia-Pacific and the world.
The President expressed his appreciation of the great achievements recorded by the Indian people in their reform and national construction and development as well as joint efforts by both governments and relevant agencies to effectively boost their cooperation.
He asked the Indian Prime Minister to convey his thanks and best regards to Indian President K. R. Narayanan and wished the Indian people still greater achievements in building a prosperous and happy country.
The Indian Prime Minister briefed President Luong about the cooperation between the two countries as well as measures to boost the India-Viet Nam comprehensive cooperation in early years of the 21st century.
PM VAGJPAYEE INITIATES TIES BETWEEN RULING PARTIES IN INDIA AND VIET NAM
Ha Noi, Jan. 9 (VNA) -- Indian Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee suggested develping relations between India's ruling BIP party and the Communist Party of Viet Nam, CPV, during his meeting with General Secretary Le Kha Phieu in Ha Noi on Jan.9.
Vajpayee is making an official visit to Viet Nam to boost the "traditional friendly and cooperative ties forged by President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru".
He has pledged a boost in bilateral cooperation, especially in investment, science and technology, as well as at multi-lateral forums such as the Non-Algined Movement, South-South cooperation, the ASEAN Security Forum and the United Nations.
In return, he has received his host's commitment to "a constant consolidation and development" of their comprehensive bilateral cooperative ties in the interest of their countries and for peace, independence, democracy and social progress in the world.
The General Secretary told his guest that he appreciated India's respect of the time-honoured friendship and multi-faceted cooperation with Viet Nam as part of its foreign policy for independence, peace, non-alignment and regional cooperation.
Mr. Phieu emphasized Viet Nam's efforts to quicken renovation so as to make a prosperous and strong nation and a just and democratic society.
The Indian Prime Minister took the opportunity to reiterate his invitation for General Secretary to a visit to India. The latter accepted the invitation with great pleasure.--VNA
VIET NAM-INDIA TIES SHOULD BE BOOSTED TO MATCH POTENTIAL, SAYS INDIAN PRIME MINISTER
Hanoi, Jan. 9 (VNA) -- Vietnamese and Indian companies should exert efforts to boost trade, investment and cooperation so as to match their potential and in the interests of the people in both countries, visiting Indian Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee said.
The Prime Minister was speaking in Ha Noi on Jan. 9 with Vietnamese and Indian business representatives attending the fourth joint meeting of the Viet Nam-India Commerical Council.
He expressed his admiration for Viet Nam's progress in renovation and said that the on-going economic reforms in India and Viet Nam would help both identify promising fields for economic cooperation.
He also expressed his pleasure to be in the presence of Indian companies in Viet Nam and applauded their efforts to promote bilateral ties, particularly in trade, investment science-technology, information technology, agriculture, healthcare and education.
He said that India was willing to provide loans and share experiences with Viet Nam to enhance cooperation.
He emphasized the need to have the economic content in India-Viet Nam relations to match the demand of the region and the world.
Close economic cooperation with Viet Nam was a key element in India's effort to boost ties with ASEAN, he said.
During his Viet Nam visit, Vajpayee attended the inauguration ceremony for the Ranbaxy Company, a pharmaceutical joint venture between Viet Nam and India in southern Binh Duong province, and witnessed signing ceremonies for transport, oil and gas agreements between the two countries.
Earlier, he and his entourage paid floral tributes at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum and visited President Ho Chi Minh's office and residence.
On the same day, the Indian Prime Minister received General Vo Nguyen Giap and Defence Minister Pham Van Tra, and met with Vietnamese scholars who have studied India and worked there.--VNA
