Hanoi (VNA) – The Vietnam visit by Speaker ofthe Indian Lok Sabha (lower house) Om Birla has made great contributions tothe strengthening of the Vietnam-India comprehensive partnership as well as thecooperation between the two parliaments, Chairman of the NationalAssembly (NA) Committee for External Relations Vu Hai Ha has said.

Speaking to the media on the outcomes of the visit, Ha saidthat the visit was a continuation of the success of the India visit byVietnamese NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue in 2021.

It showed the high level of mutual trust and the closefriendship and relationship between the two legislative bodies, hesaid, adding that it was a highlight of the activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateral diplomatic ties in 2022.

During his stay, Birla and Vietanamese Party and State leaders agreedon many issues related to the partnership between the two countries and twoparliaments, noted Ha.

In terms of politics, the two sides agreed to increasemeetings and delegation exchanges at high and all levels through all channelsof Party, State, Government and NA as well as people-to-people exchange. Indiahas been one of the countries that have the highest number of delegation exchangeswith Vietnam, with nine visits by leaders of both sides within only nearly six years.

Vietnam and India concurred to work closely together in organising practical anddiverse activities to celebrate the 50th anniversary of bilateraldiplomatic ties, said Ha.

Regarding economy, trade and investment, India has becomeone of the 10th largest trade partners of Vietnam with two-way trade growth increasing about 20 percent per year, and revenue doubling over the past fiveyears to over 13 billion USD in 2021. The two sides agreed to continue tocreate optimal conditions for the expansion of bilateral trade relations, whileencouraging businesses to invest in each other’s market.

Meanwhile, defence and security have been an important pillar of the bilateral partnership.Vietnam and India will coordinate closely to implement bilateral action plans andcooperation agreements, while fosteringcollaboration in non-traditional security issues as well as criminal andterrorism prevention and combat.

Both sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation and experience sharing inareas of Indian strength such as digital transformation, digital economy,information technology, cyber security, 5G service supplying, maritime science, and pharmacieutical management.

Vietnam and India also reached consensus on bolstering cultural, tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchange as well as Yogatraining, while continuing to work together in restoring cultural heritage inthe central region and others of Vietnam.

The Indian side pledged to support the implementation ofexisting cooperation mechanisms between India and ASEAN, said Ha.

He noted that the relations between the two parliaments ofVietnam and India have seen strong growth over the years. Right after COVID-19was put under control, NA Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue made a trip to India, whichcreated a new important motivation for the growth of bilateral ties in the newperiod.

The fostering of ties between the two parliaments have madeimportant conributions to the promotion of the bilateral comprehensivestrategic partnership as well as the ensuring of peace, stability, cooperationand prosperity in the Indo-Pacific region and the world, stressed Ha.

He held that the potential remains huge for the twoparliaments to further promote their ties, especially in institution buildingand the completion of the legal system serving post-pandemic socio-economic recoveryand development.

In the time to come, the two sides will effectively realise their cooperationagreement reached in 2016, while strengthening cooperation among theircommittees and friendship parliamentarians’ groups. The two sides will continueto coordinate closely at multilateral forums such as IPU, AIPA, ASEP, APPF, andsupport each other’s viewpoints on regional and international issues ofshared interest.

According to Ha, both sides will review and supervise the implementation ofsigned agreements between governments, ministries and sectors of both sides tomake sure their efficiency.

He said that amid the changing situation in the Indo-Pacificregion, Vietnam and India are sharing visions and interests.Vietnam highly values the role of India in the world arena, and believes thatIndia will make more contributions to stability, peace and development in theregion and the world.

The official said he believes that the fruitful outcomes ofthe Indian lower house leader’s visit will create new motivation for thecomprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and India, making itdeeper, more effective and practical in the time to come./.