President Mukherjee to meet Vietnamese counterpart, oil exploration pact expected

President Pranab Mukherjee, who is currently on a four-day state visit to Vietnam will be holding key discussions with his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang ahead of the signing of strategic agreements in the oil exploration and connectivity sectors today.

He will also hold delegation-level talks and meet Vietnam Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minster Pham Binh Minh and President of National Assembly Nguyen Phu Trong, who is also the general secretary of the ruling Communist Party.

Talks between the two sides are expected to focus on further strengthening the strategic partnership that India and Vietnam have at present and widening the cooperation in various sectors, including trade and investment, defence, human resource development and science and technology and space.

Besides planting a sapling of the Bodhi Tree at the President House in Hanoi, President Mukherjee will also visit places of national and historic importance today.

The President has already watched an hour-long ancient Vietnamese water puppet show.

While taking forward bilateral cooperation in oil exploration, defence, trade and investment and science and technology, the two sides are likely to focus on newer areas to strengthen the partnership further.

President Mukherjee arrived in Hanoi last evening. Today, he will pay a visit to the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs to pay his respects.

Later, he will visit the residence of Ho Chi Minh, who lead the freedom struggle in Vietnam and will also inaugurate an Indian Study Centre in Hanoi.

President Mukherjee's visit to Vietnam comes after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj's three-day visit to the country in August.