Ho Chi Minh City: Celebrating the 78th Independence Day of the Republic of India

On August 14, the Ho Chi Minh City Union of Friendship Organizations and the Vietnam-India Friendship Association of the City held a ceremony to celebrate the 78th Independence Day of the Republic of India (August 15, 1947 - August 15, 2024).

In a warm and friendly atmosphere, Mr. Huynh Thanh Lap, Chairman of the Vietnam-India Friendship Association of Ho Chi Minh City sent his congratulations to the Indian people on the special event of the country.

Over the past 78 years, the Indian people have achieved great achievements in many aspects of national construction and development.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972 and especially since the upgrade to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016, the relationship between Vietnam and India has achieved many great achievements, strategic trust has been continuously strengthened through close cooperation between sectors and localities and regular exchanges and contacts between high-ranking leaders.

At the local level, City leaders of all periods have devoted deep affection and concern to the Vietnam-India bilateral friendship.

Leaders of Ho Chi Minh City and the Vietnam-India Friendship Association of the City have had many meetings and discussions with the Ambassador and Consul General of India about the possibility of cooperation within the framework of Vietnam-India people-to-people exchange activities in the City.

Currently, India is one of the seven Comprehensive Strategic Partners of Vietnam. As of April 2024, India has 402 investment projects in Vietnam, ranking 26th out of 141 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

Mr. Huynh Thanh Lap emphasized that the traditional and friendly relationship between the two countries built over many years along with the important achievements, especially the results achieved in the Vietnam-India Joint Statement during the recent State visit to India by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, will be a solid foundation for the two countries to strengthen their cooperative relations, especially trade relations.

Mr. Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of the Republic of India in Ho Chi Minh City, shared that over the past 78 years, since gaining independence, India has made significant progress in all fields, from economy to culture, politics, society and has increasingly affirmed its influence in the international arena.

The Indian economy has seen strong growth, with achievements in India’s agricultural and industrial sectors such as automobiles, textiles, biotechnology, pharmaceuticals, infrastructure, and renewable energy making a positive impression. With favorable policies and an improved business environment, India has become more attractive to investors.

Emphasizing the deep and historical relationship between India and Vietnam, Mr. Madan Mohan Sethi acknowledged that India and Vietnam are bound together not only by history but also by common values ​​of peace, cooperation and mutual respect.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's recent visit to India has deepened the partnership between the two countries with the Joint Statement on enhancing the Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership towards higher political-strategic trust, deeper defense-security cooperation, more substantive and effective economic-trade-investment cooperation, broader cooperation in science-technology, cultural-tourism exchanges and closer people-to-people exchanges.

Mr. Madan Mohan Sethi believes that in the coming time, meaningful activities between the two countries will continue to be promoted, contributing to promoting the partnership between India and Vietnam to continue to develop more strongly./.