~ Le Viêt Nam, aujourd'hui. ~
The Vietnam News

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Need to exploit trade potential b/w India and Vietnam

HANOI - Veteran Vietnamese General Vo Nguyen Giap today said there was a need to exploit the immense potential in trade between India and Vietnam as successfully as the two had achieved in the political arena.

"Our political relations are excellent and will continue because of the firm foundation. But there is need to exploit our potential in the field of trade just like we have achieved in the political field," the 93-year-old General told External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh, who called on him. "I want to see our countries cooperate in economy and culture," Ho said.

The General said political relations between India and Vietnam would continue to remain excellent because of the solid foundation provided by India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and the Vietnamese Liberation leader Ho Chi Minh. During the 40-minutes meeting, the General quoted Ho Chi Minh as having said that a human being is the most important element on earth and India was a country which gave value to this aspect.

The General, dressed smartly in his military fatigues, recalled his numerous visits to India where he had gone to many scientific and industrial institutions and thanked India for extending scholarships to Vietnamese students.India annually sponsors 200-300 students to study in India.

Vo also conveyed his greetings to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.

By Jaishree Balasubramanian - PTI - October 17, 2004


India willing to help set up educational institute in Vietnam

HANOI - India today said it is willing to help set up a multi-disciplinary institution in Vietnam, which apart from teaching engineering, IT and other professional courses would serve as an instrument of stronger friendship between the two countries.

"Apart from engineering, Information Technology and management, other professional subjects of immediate application in the modern era could be taught there," External Affairs Minister K Natwar Singh told a seminar here commemorating the 50th anniversary of the historic meeting between Jawaharlal Nehru and Ho Chi Minh in Hanoi.

This institution apart from helping young minds to think and innovate would be an instrument of stronger friendship for the coming decades, Singh told over 200 fans, admirers and academics attending the seminar.He said the current process of economy and technology-driven globalisation brings enormous opportunities and challenges.

The great leaders had understood the importance of global inter-dependence as well as the impact of technology right at the inception. This had ensured that the two countries had achieved visible progress in developing a sound technological base, Singh said.

He said besides the government-funded cooperation for scholarships and training, there are some 35 institutions of IT across Vietnam set up by Indian and Vietnamese entrepreneurs. "We need to continue working in this direction and promote closer links to our mutual advantage."

PTI - October 17, 2004


Nehru's 1954 visit to Vietnam of great significance

HANOI - India's first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru's visit to Vietnam 50 years ago on this day is of great significance to this country as he was the first foreign head of State to come here just a week after its liberation, Vietnamese Foreign Minister Nguyen Dy Nien said today.

"Fifty years ago, Prime Minister Nehru, was the first foreign Head of Government to come to Hanoi just one week after its total liberation. Accompanying him was his beloved daughter - Indira Gandhi. "It was amazing that the two most outstanding figures of India were all present in Hanoi at that historic conjucture," Nguyen Dy Nien told a special seminar held here to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the meeting of the two leaders.

"Also at that time 50 years ago, my colleagues and I took over the Ministry of Foregin Affairs, and since then I began my career as a diplomat and this historic visit is still fresh in my memory," the Minister noted. He read out a poem penned by Ho Chi Minh to Nehru in 1942, which was translated into English by Sivarama Krishnan, former Indian envoy to Vietnam.

I am struggling, you are active You are in Jail, I am in prison, Ten thousand miles apart, we have not met We communicate without words, Shared ideas link you and me What we lack is personal encounter I am jailed by a neighbouring friend You are chained and fettered by the enemy.

PTI - October 17, 2004