The Vietnamese and Indian parliaments should promote the exchange of
delegations at all levels to share experiences in law-making and
supervision work, National Assembly Vice Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan
said.
Ngan is making a visit to India from February 20-25.
In a meeting with Speaker of the House of People Meira Kumar and
Chairman of the Council of States Hamid Ansari of India, the
Vietnamese NA Chairwoman also suggested that the two legislative bodies
continue to coordinate closely at international and regional
inter-parliamentary forums, especially within the framework of the
Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU) and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary
Assembly (AIPA).
She affirmed that the time-honoured
relations between the two countries hold special significance to peace,
stability and sustainable development of the Asia-Pacific region as
well as to both countries.
The legislative leader said
she was happy with the success of the Vietnam-India Friendship Year
2012 on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of Vietnam-India
diplomatic ties and 5 years of the establishment of bilateral strategic
partnership.
She also noted with joy the development of
economic-trade and investment ties between the two countries, with
two-way trade reaching almost 4 billion USD last year, despite the
impacts of the global economic downturn.
Ngan thanked
India for its support of Vietnam’s stance on the settlement of
disputes in the East Sea through peaceful negotiations on the basis of
international law while ensuring the freedom of shipping navigation and
the right to access to natural resources in the East Sea in line with
the principles of international law.
She reiterated
Vietnam’s consistent support of India’s bid to become a permanent
member in an expanded United Nations Security Council, adding that she
believed India’s growing strength is an important factor for peace,
stability and development in the region and the world at large.
The Indian legislative leaders affirmed that Vietnam has an important
position in India’s “Look East” policy. They proposed that both sides
continue to exchange the visits of the parliaments’ leaders and their
committees’ members, adding that they are happy at the establishment of
the India-Vietnam friendship parliamentarians group.
NA Vice Chairwoman Ngan also attended the opening of the Indian parliament’s session on budget issues.
On February 21, the delegation laid flowers at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial in New Delhi.-VNA