New Delhi (VNA) – The upcomingState visit to India by Vietnam’s President Tran Dai Quang, from March 2-4, isexpected to help promote cooperation between the two countries, while deepeningties in national defence and security, said Vietnamese Ambassador to India TonSinh Thanh.

The visit will also expand bilateralcollaboration in economy, investment, tourism, cultural exchange and better tappotential for cooperation in education and technology, the diplomat told aVietnamese News Agency correspondent in India.

The trip will be a new and importantmilestone in bilateral cooperation, he noted.

This is the first visit to India by aVietnamese President following the visit by then President Truong Tan Sang in2011.

The visit demonstrates the importanceVietnamese leaders have attached to India and their attention to Vietnam-Indiarelations, Ambassador Thanh stressed.

It offers an opportunity for leaders of thetwo countries to assess past cooperation and outline plans to step up thebilateral comprehensive strategic partnership, he said.

The two sides will take the occasion toreview the 2017 Vietnam-India Friendship Year and prepare for activities within the framework of the “VietnameseCultural Days in India” programme marking the 46th anniversary ofdiplomatic ties in 2018, according to the ambassador.

Thanh emphasised that over the years, thestrategic partnership between Vietnam and India has developed strongly andpolitical trust has been consolidated through the regular exchange ofhigh-level visits.

He cited five major visits by Vietnameseleaders to India over the past half a decade, made by General Secretary of theCommunist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong in 2013, then Prime Minister NguyenTan Dung in 2014, National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan in December2016, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh in July 2017and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc in January 2018.

On the Indian side, Thanh listed visits toVietnam by then Indian President Pranab Mukhrjee in 2014 and PM Modi in 2016.

Besides, the two sides have maintainedcooperation mechanisms, especially political consultations and strategicdialogues between Foreign Ministries, and dialogues between Defence Ministries,contributing to enhancing cooperation and coordination between the twocountries at international forums, the ambassador said.

He added that Vietnam and India have alsoeffectively partnered in national defence and security.

Notably, after lifting the strategicpartnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam and India signedan action programme during Deputy PM Minh’s visit to India in 2017 aiming tomaterialise the comprehensive strategic partnership.

Also last year, Vietnam and India held manyactivities celebrating the 45th anniversary of bilateral diplomaticties, which, the ambassador said, contributed to boosting the friendship,cultural cooperation and people-to-people exchange between the two countries.

Asked about prospects for Vietnam-Indiacooperation following the recent India visit by PM Phuc and the upcoming visitby President Quang, Ambassador Thanh said they are bright.

He explained that the Vietnam-Indiarelationship has a firm foundation created by historical and cultural links andfostered by generations of the two countries’ leaders.

Apart from political trust, the two sidesshare many similarities and strategic interests, he added.

Moreover, as economies with dynamic and fastgrowth, both Vietnam and India have substantial potential. The two countriesare also pushing reform and optimising opportunities generated by the globalvalue chain.

“I firmly believe that the Vietnam-India relationshipwill thrive in the years to come,” the ambassador said.-VNA