HÀ NỘI — Important landmarks key to the friendship and cooperation between Viet Nam and India over the past five decades have been presented through photographs displayed at an exhibition which opened on Friday in Ha Noi.

 Themed Viet Nam – India: 50 Years of Cooperation, the virtual photo exhibition has been organised by the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) in collaboration with the Indian Embassy in Viet Nam, and Viet Nam-India Friendship Association, aiming to highlight historical milestones in the traditional friendship between the two countries. The event is to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two countries (January 7, 1972 - January 7, 2022) and five years since the establishment of the two countries' Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (September 2016 - September 2021).

The display features 50 black-and-white and colour archive photos which truthfully and vividly reflect the increasingly strong solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between the peoples of Viet Nam and India.

Speaking at the opening ceremony taking place at the VNA’s headquarters, VNA General Director Vũ Viet Trang emphasised that amid complex developments of the COVID-19 pandemic, it is hard for many activities to take place on a large scale. The VNA and the co-organisers wish to highlight the historic landmarks in the traditional and long-standing friendship between the two countries, as well as the profound sentiment and sharing that the countries’ peoples have given to each other over the last five decades.

“Achievements made in various fields over the past fifty years clearly demonstrate the comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and India," said Trang.

"The great leaders of the two peoples – President Hồ Chí Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru – laid the foundation for the bilateral traditional friendship which has been continuously promoted by the leaders and people across different generations of both sides.

"The two countries have always supported each other during their struggle for national independence in the past and the current national process of construction and development." 

She said that the photos exhibited not only reflect important historical events in the bilateral relations and outstanding achievements gained by the two sides but also highlight the deep affection and relationship between Indian and Vietnamese people, that have helped reduce difficulties as well as losses caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

They include the photo of President Hồ Chí Minh and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru signing the Viet Nam-India Joint Declaration on February 7, 1958; the photo of Hanoians warmly welcoming Indian Prime Minister Rajendra Prasad who paid a friendship visit to Viet Nam in 1959; and photos of visits of the leaders of the two countries as well as meetings on the sidelines of bilateral forums.

The exhibition also features images showing the friendship between people of the two countries; and their valuable mutual support to help each other overcome the impacts of the pandemic and recover economies.

Indian Ambassador to Viet Nam Pranay Verma said the exhibition provides an insight into the relations and close friendship between the two nations. The common values and interests, along with the deep mutual trust and understanding, have turned Viet Nam into an important partner of India in terms of bilateral, regional, and global cooperation. He expressed his belief that in the next 50 years, the close friendship between the two peoples will become stronger and the Viet Nam-India relations will reach new levels.

Earlier, on December 17, 2021, within the framework of the official visit to India by National Assembly Chairman Vương Đình Hue, a similar photo exhibition was organised by the Vietnam News Agency coordinated with the Indian Council on International Affairs and the Vietnamese Embassy in India.

Other special guests attending the opening ceremony include Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyễn Quốc Dũng, Chairwoman of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations Nguyễn Phương Nga, and Vice President and General Secretary of the Viet Nam-India Friendship Organisation Ha Minh Hue.

To tour the virtual photo exhibition Viet Nam - India: 50 Years of Cooperation, please visit https://link.gov.vn/TLAVNAD (in Vietnamese) and https://link.gov.vn/PICVNAD (in English) from January 7 to 11. — VNS