Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc suggested that Vietnam and India step up their trade ties during his reception for outgoing Indian Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish in Hanoi on June 17.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (right) and outgoing
Indian Ambassador Parvathaneni Harish

PM Phuc urged India to facilitate the penetration of Vietnamese fruits into the Indian market and expressed his wish that more Indian groups and investors will invest in Vietnam. 

The Vietnamese Government will create favourable conditions for foreign investors, including those from India, he pledged. 

Besides, Vietnam and India should beef up bilateral cooperation in national defence, the PM said. 

He applauded Ambassador Parvathaneni’s trips to 26 Vietnamese cities and provinces to seek cooperation opportunities between localities of the two countries, thus promoting the bilateral relationship and people-to-people exchanges. 

PM Phuc hoped that the ambassador, in any position, will make more significant contributions to the Vietnam-India relations. 

For his part, Harish expressed his delight at the growth of two-way trade, which exceeded 10 billion USD in 2018, doubling the turnover recorded in 2016. 

The diplomat also hoped for stronger trade ties between Vietnam and India, and the promotion of Vietnamese farm produce and fruits in the Indian market. 

He affirmed India’s support for Vietnam as a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council for the 2020-2021 term.