CSR Gives Shot in the Arm to India-Vietnam Relations

Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang’s visit to India from March 2-4, at the invitation of Indian President Ram Nath Kovind is another encounter in the long-standing friendship and multi-faceted relationship of cooperation between the two countries.

The relationship has become ever stronger since the two countries established a strategic partnership in 2007. In September 2016, the bilateral relationship was raised to the status of a comprehensive strategic partnership. Over the past 46 years, the Vietnam-India time-honoured friendship and multi-faceted cooperation relationship, whose foundation was laid by their President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, has been continuously nurtured and strengthened by both countries’ successive generations of leaders and people. India actively supported Vietnam’s struggle for national independence and reunification in the past and continues to support Vietnam’s economic development today.

Cooperation mechanisms such as the Vietnam-India Intergovernmental Committee on Science, Technology, Culture, and Education and political consultations between the two foreign ministries are maintained in an effective manner.

Standing Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Bui Thanh Son, paid a working visit to India from June 21-22. He met Minister of Commerce and Industry, Suresh Prabhu, Minister of State for External Affairs, Vijay Kuma Singh, and Deputy National Security Advisor, Rajilder Khanna in New Delhi. Both sides reached a consensus on translating the agreements reached during the visits of Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc to India earlier this year. Cooperation is also being promoted on education, culture, sports, tourism, and people-to-people to exchanges.

Corporates and non-profit groups are stepping in to further the friendship. Spark Minda, Ashok Minda Group, has now facilitated a camp for 500 PWDs (persons with disabilities) in Vietnam along with Bhagwan Mahavir Viklang Sahitya Samiti (BMVSS) and Embassy of India in Vietnam. In continuation to its legacy of social welfare drives, the artificial limb fitment camp is aimed to heal and treat more than 500 Persons with Disability in Vietnam, with certain limb disabilities during the 5 week span.

Her Excellency Nguyen Thi Hien, the first lady of Vietnam inaugurated the camp with His Excellency P Harish, Ambassador of India in Vietnam, along with technical and implementing partner of the camp Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahatya Samiti (BMVSS) which has provided the equipment and personnel to facilitate this camp.

The Artificial Limb Fitment Camp has been organised by the Ministry of External Affairs, Government of India and Embassy of India in Vietnam as part of the bilateral Development Partnership initiatives in Vietnam. BMVSS (Bhagwan Mahaveer Viklang Sahatya Samiti) has aided Spark Minda foundation to facilitate the camp in two provinces: Vinh Phuc and Phu tho in Vietnam.

Said Ashok Minda, Group CEO, “Our initiative has benefitted more than 7,000 amputees globally through our small means of giving back to society. Our collaboration with BMVSS aka Jaipur Foot has already made several milestones in India and Indonesia by benefitting people across various age groups.” The Lac Viet Friendship Hospital will monitor the patients after they are fitted artificial limbs. Vietnam is the first country to implement the Jaipur project.

Apart from medical care, India is enriching cultural ties with Vietnam. The Embassy of Socialist Republic of Vietnam in India and International Chamber of Media And Entertainment Industry (ICMEI) have jointly created a cultural forum, for the first time in the history of Indo Vietnam diplomatic relations, at Marwah Studios, Noida Film City.

Called the Indo Vietnam Film and Cultural Forum (IVFCF), it has planned film festivals, student exchange program, institutional tie ups, fashion, education and tourism promotion. Many delegates have already attended the different events of ICMEI supported by AAFT and Marwah Studios in last few years including a global film festival, Global Festival of Journalism, Global Literary Festival, Global Fashion Week, International Festival of Cellphone Cinema and other global summits.

Here’s to more friendship between the two Asian nations.

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