Vietnamese President calls on Indian dignitaries

Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang called on former Congress President Sonia Gandhi and former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here on Saturday.

President Quang also met Congress leader Anand Sharma and Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan.

At the joint press meet with the Vietnamese President earlier in the day, Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted the steps being undertaken to further enhance the strategic partnership between both the countries in the fields of defence and security, trade and investment, energy, agriculture, science and technology and tourism.

The two leaders also discussed issues of global importance.

India and Vietnam inked three agreements in the areas of trade, agriculture and atomic energy.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in an official release said the countries signed a MoU (Memorandum of Understanding) on economic and trade cooperation to establish a framework for enhancing economic and trade promotion.

Another MoU on Cooperation between the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership, India (GCNEP) and the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute (VINATOM) were signed to strengthen the technical cooperation in the field of atomic energy for peaceful purposes, the MEA release added.

Both countries also signed a work plan for the years 2018-2022 between the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR) and Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development of Vietnam.

The purpose of the work plan is to promote cooperation in the transfer of technology and exchange of visits of technical experts in the fields of agriculture and allied.

Earlier today, the Vietnamese President paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat in Delhi. He also received a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhawan as well.

President Quang, who is on a three-day visit to India, arrived here on late Friday evening.

He is also expected to interact with prominent Indian businessmen at the India-Vietnam Business Forum.