(VOVworld) – National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan paid a courtesy call to India’s President Pranab Mukherjee on Saturday as part of her visit to India. Ms. Ngan expressed Vietnam’s support for India’s Act East policy and its increasing presence in South East Asia and thanked India for its positive stance on East Sea issue.

President Mukherjee said both countries need to boost economic cooperation and create favourable investment environment so as to achieve the goal 15 billion USD of two-way trade by 2020. He urged for further cooperation in nuclear and renewable energy. 

Also on Saturday, the top legislator met members of the India Foundation in New Delhi, where she expected the two countries to expand cooperation in using nuclear energy and space technology for peaceful purposes, and other hi-tech areas. Ms. Ngan said India is of the 10 largest trade partner of Vietnam with bilateral trade reaching 5.5 billion USD per year and called for more Indian companies to invest in Vietnam.

Suresh Prabhu, a member of India Foundation’s Management Board and Railway Minister, said Ms. Ngan’s visit to India will open a new chapter in the two countries’ relationship, which needs to be strengthened.

The National Assembly Chairwoman also met with Dinesh Kumar Sarraj, Chairman and Managing Director of India’s Oil and Gas Company ONGC Videsh, on cooperation with Vietnam Petroleum Corporation.