India eager to tighten network with Afghanistan, Vietnam, Cuba and Venezuela in all spheres: VP at #NAM2019

Baku, October 26: Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu yesterday interacted with the President of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan, Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, his Vietnamese counterpart, Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, President of Cuba Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez and President of Venezuela Nicolás Maduro Moros on the sidelines of the 18th NAM Summit in Baku, Azerbaijan. During his interaction with the four dignitaries, the Vice President stressed the need to further deepen India’s close relations with Afghanistan, Vietnam, Cuba and Venezuela in all spheres.

 

In his talks with Dr. Mohammad Ashraf Ghani, the Vice President emphasized that India and Afghanistan enjoyed close and friendly relations and added that people-to-people exchanges provided strong foundation to the strategic partnership between the two nations. Referring to the bilateral trade which is more than USD 1.1 billion, Naidu said that there was immense potential for growth. 

The VP also congratulating Afghanistan for the successful conduct of the elections. 

 

The Vice President also met with Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, Vice President of Vietnam. The VP spoke of the two millennia-old civilizational relationship and the historical bond of trust and friendship shared by the two nations. Referring to his participation in the 16th UN Day of Vesak Celebrations at Vietnam in May 2019, he conveyed his heartfelt gratitude to the warm hospitality accorded to him in Vietnam. 

“Vietnam, which will assume the chair of ASEAN in 2020, was not just a trustworthy friend but a key pillar of India’s Act East policy and a very important partner for India in the ASEAN,” Said the VP.

During his talks with Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel Bermúdez, the Vice President pointed out that India and Cuba must continue to advocate the NAM principles such as the sovereign equality of all nations, unity of developing countries, South-South cooperation and development through inclusive growth. The Vice President congratulated Cuba on the successful conduct of elections. He also expressed his happiness at the progress across different spheres including inauguration of the new PANCHKARMA center in Havana and the operationalization of the fertilizer plant in Cienfuegos. He expressed his delight that Cuba was utilizing India’s offer of ITEC scholarships to the maximum. He thanked Cuba for its support to the Indian position on Jammu and Kashmir at the UNHRC meeting in Geneva last month.

 

The Vice President also met with President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela , Nicolás Maduro Moros.

Expressing his happiness at the close and cordial relations that India and Venezuela have enjoyed, the Vice President said that 2019 marked the 60th Anniversary of establishing bilateral diplomatic ties. The Vice President said that Venezuela had been an active partner in our ITEC program, with more than 200 Venezuelan professionals being trained in India in the last two decades.

Naidu congratulated the nation for its recent victory in the UNHRC elections, with India’s support. He also sought Venezuela’s support to India’s candidature for the UNSC non-permanent seat for the term of 2021-22.