Socialist Republic of Vietnam

Ha Noi, Nov. 6(VNA) -- Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien held talks in Ha Noi this afternoon, Nov. 6, with his Indian counterpart, Jaswant Singh, who arrived in Ha Noi earlier the day for an official visit made at the invitation of FM Nien.

The two FMs briefed each other of the situation in each country and discussed orientations and measures to boost the two countries' cooperation as well as regional and international issues of mutual concern.

FM Nguyen Dy Nien appreciated India's efforts in strengthening relations with other countries in the region, its positive contributions to consolidating and raising the Non-Aligned Movement's role, boosting South-South cooperation and coordinating with developing countries at international fora.

The two FMs were pleased at the fine development in the friendship and comprehensive cooperation between the two countries in the recent past, particularly after the India visit by President Tran Duc Luong in December, 1999. They said the visit brought the two countries' relations to a new height of development and contributed to strengthening mutual understanding and trust between Viet Nam and India.

The two sides agreed upon orientations and measures to boost cooperation qualitatively and quantatively. They also exchanged views on measures to further strengthen cooperation between the two foreign ministries.

Discussing regional and international issues, the two sides affirmed to strengthen collaboration of activities within the regional and international fora such as the Non-Aligned Movement, the South-South Cooperation, the ASEAN Post Ministerial Conference (PMC), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), and others, thus contributing to peace, stability and development in the Asian-Pacific region and the world.

In capacity as the President of Association of the Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Viet Nam welcomed India's policy to boost cooperation with ASEAN bilaterally and within the India-ASEAN dialogue relations and the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) and ASEAN. Viet Nam reiterated its support to India's desire to join the United Nations Security Council and the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC).

The two sides also agreed that the success of FM J.Singh's visit would make an important contribution to further strengthening bilateral relations for the interest of both countries and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.

FM Jaswant Singh invited FM Nguyen Dy Nien to visit India. FM Nien accepted the invitation with pleasure.

FM Nguyen Dy Nien and FM Jaswant Singh co-chaired the 10th session of the Viet Nam-India Inter-Governmental Commission for Economic, Cultural, and Scientific and Technological Cooperation.