President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday said that Vietnam is a trusted partner and an important pillar of India's 'Look East Policy'.
Speaking at the inauguration of the India Study Centre here in Hanoi, President Mukherjee said, "We, in India, consider Vietnam as a trusted friend and an important pillar of India's "Look East Policy". In our co-operation in the area of defence and security, we are committed to the promotion of peace in our region."
"Both our Governments have accorded the fullest encouragement, over the years, to strengthening the linkages between our peoples. Our investors and businessmen, professionals and researchers, technocrats and academicians as well as our Parliamentarians and our youth have successfully been working together. Our bilateral dialogue seeks to achieve higher levels of their collaboration for our mutual benefit," he added.
Speaking of the projects being done by Indian organisations in Vietnam, President Mukherjee said, "We have prioritised the enhancement of the connectivity between us - and here I refer to the physical, institutional and people to people linkages. I am delighted that direct flights between India and Vietnam are being started later this year and I hope that it will soon be possible to also drive from Hanoi to Kolkata."
"The Archaeological Survey of India will be taking up a project for restoration and conservation of the Cham monuments at My Son. We look forward to opening an Indian cultural centre in Hanoi which will, no doubt, bring different aspects of Indian culture to your beautiful country," he added.
Along educational lines, Pranab Mukherjee expressed a desire to see a greater exchange between the institutions of India and Vietnam.
"Both of us would like to see an intensification of the exchanges between our universities and institutions. I am delighted to note that the Ho Chi Minh National Academy for Politics and Public Administration has already evolved a co-operation framework with the prestigious Indian Institute of Management in Bangalore and with the Indian Institute of Public Administration in Delhi," said President Mukherjee.
"We must do what we can to stimulate the curiosity of our younger generation in each other. We must encourage them to connect in a mutually beneficial relationship to sustain the brotherly sentiment that has bonded our societies for generations. I have no doubt that this Centre will grow into a focal point for academic exchanges that will enrich the bilateral discourse between our peoples," he added.
President Mukherjee arrived in Hanoi on Sunday on a four-day state visit during which he will look to boost the bilateral and strategic partnership between India and Vietnam.