President seeks more links between Indian, Vietnamese varsities

India and Vietnam have prioritised enhanced physical, institutional and people-to-people linkages, and both would now like to see intensified exchanges between their universities and institutions, President Pranab Mukherjee Monday said.

"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," the president said after inaugurating the India Study Centre here.

He said both governments have an abiding commitment to people-to-people ties and the "establishment of the study centre is yet another example of this".

Mukherjee stressed that both countries "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," he said, adding that he had "no doubt that this centre will grow into a focal point for academic exchanges that will enrich the bilateral discourse between our people".

He said both countries and their 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," he said, adding that the bilateral dialogue seeks to achieve "higher levels of their collaboration for our mutual benefit".

Mukherjee pointed out that India and Vietnam had "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," he said.

The president also announced that the Archaeological Survey of India will be taking up a project for restoration and conservation of the Cham monuments at My Son sanctuary.

"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.

The president arrived in Hanoi Sunday on a four-day state visit. Earlier Monday, he held delegation-level talks with Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang and the two sides inked seven agreements.