HANOI, Jan 16:
India plans to open a Cultural Centre in the Vietnamese capital this year to promote interchange of ideas and greater people-to-people interaction between the two nations, Vice President Hamid Ansari has announced.
“We wish to bring together the exchange of ideas and culture, with a contemporary face, to our ancient bonds of friendship. To facilitate these ties and promote people-to people contacts, we plan to open the Indian Cultural Centre in Hanoi this year,” Ansari said at a banquet hosted by his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Thi Doan last night.
India and Vietnam have stressed on improving cultural ties between the two nations, along with the strategic partnership which began in 2007, and trade relations.
“As two developing countries with a stake in the future, we must take advantage of our synergies to jointly face emerging challenges and also to exploit new opportunities,” Ansari said.
The Vice President said the two countries have founded a Strategic Partnership on a common vision, shared interests and mutual trust and friendship. He maintained that the two countries are committed to promoting peace, stability and security in South East Asia and the world.
“We stand ready to impart greater content to our partnership for mutual benefit. The agreements and MoUs that we have signed will open new avenues for bilateral cooperation,” Ansari said.
He also pointed out that India values the strategic understanding and cooperation between the two countries at regional and multilateral forums like ASEAN, Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, East Asia Summit, ASEM and international organisations like the United Nations and WTO.
“We deeply appreciate Vietnam’s support to India’s candidature as a permanent member of an expanded UN Security Council,” Ansari said.
He hailed Vietnam’s rapid economic and social development which has contributed to its achievements in meeting the Millennium Development Goals.
“I congratulate the leadership and people of Vietnam for their success in reducing poverty from 58 percent to less than 10 per cent in two decades,” he said. (PTI)
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