(VOVworld) – Vietnam hopes to strengthen cooperation with India in economics, finance, investment, and tourism. Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung made the remark on Tuesday while receiving Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari who is in Vietnam to attend the Closing Ceremony of the India-Vietnam Friendship Year. Dung suggested that Vietnam and India should work more closely to timely resolve problems in economic cooperation, facilitate businesses to seek investment opportunities in both countries, and soon launch direct air routes to promote trade and investment. He also urged both sides to boost cooperation in culture, national defence, and education especially in training human resources in advanced technology, defense, and security.

Ansari affirmed that India always considers Vietnam a pillar of its Look East policy and is ready to cooperate with Vietnam. He reiterated India’s consistent position that East Sea disputes should be settled peacefully to ensure regional and global stability, cooperation, and development.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Indian Vice President Mohammad Hamid Ansari (Photo: VNA)

The same day Ansari met with Party  General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong who stressed that the Vietnamese Party and Government value their strategic partnership with India. Earlier Ansari held talks with Vietnamese Vice President Nguyen Thi Doan.