Viet Nam, India vow to foster sustainable trade

Deputy Minister of Industry and Trade Phan Thi Thang, Deputy Minister of Planning and Investment Do Thanh Trung, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Do Hung Viet and Vietnamese Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Hai joined the meeting.

Tran expressed thanks to the Indian Minister and Ministry of Commerce & Industry for their close coordination with Vietnamese agencies in boosting trade, industry and energy cooperation, making active contributions to strengthening Viet Nam-India comprehensive strategic partnership.

The two nations' economic, trade and investment ties have made strong developments, noted the Deputy PM, adding that India has remained the biggest trade partner and investor of Viet Nam in South Asia while Viet Nam is the fourth largest trade partner of India in ASEAN.

Tran proposed both sides step up trade promotion activities and organize activities to connect businesses in fields of trade and investment, diversify the supply chains, especially in such areas as textile, garment, raw materials, footwear, and pharmaceuticals from India, and agricultural products and food from Viet Nam.

The two sides agreed to promote export of each side's advantageous items, including agricultural products and fruits after they have opened the market for fruits such as grapes and pomegranates from India, and grapefruits and durians from Viet Nam.

Both sides vowed to work closely to launch comprehensive measures to endorse economic, trade and investment ties in a more sustainable manner, exploring the possibility of signing a bilateral free trade agreement.

The same day, the Deputy PM had working sessions with India's big corporations such as Adani, Uno Minda, and SMS Pharmaceuticals./.