Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Truong Quang Nghia, on Sunday, played host to Indian President Ram Nath Kovind. The Indian leader is now on a 3-day State-level visit to Viet Nam from 18 to 20 November at the invitation of General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President Nguyen Phu Trong.

Indian President Ram Nath Kovind (left) being warmly received by Da Nang Party Committee Secretary Truong Quang Nghia (Photo: Tram Anh)

During their meeting, Secretary Nghia and the Indian leader expressed their delight at the fruitful results from the bilateral cooperation between Da Nang and Indian localities.

Over recent years, Da Nang has welcomed many delegations, associations and naval ships from India.
Between January and September, Da Nang’s exports to India was estimated at 1.5 million US$, up 9% against the same period last year.

As of September, there had been 2 Indian-invested projects in Da Nang with a total registered investment capital of 13.5 million US$.

Annually, through the Indian Embassy in Viet Nam, the Indian government grants scholarships to Da Nang’s government officials in various aspects such as short-term English training, information technology (IT), environment and science, within the framework of the Indian Economic and Technical Cooperation Programme (ITEC).

Furthermore, Da Nang has coordinated with the Indian Embassy in Viet Nam and the Indian Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City in organising many cultural exchanges and arts programmes in the locality.

In particular, the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture and the National Museum Institute of History of Art, Conservation and Museology in India have jointly entered into a Memorandum of Understanding on the compilation and publication of the catalogue entitled ‘Cham Sculpture of Viet Nam and the relationship with Indian arts, which features research into 50 sculptures belonging to the Da Nang museum’s own collection.

In a similar vein, the city’s museum is now joining forces with the National Museum of India in studying and compiling a book introducing the relationship between the Cham sculpture and the Indian art, which will be printed in India by late this year.

As part of the bilateral educational cooperation programme, in 2007, the Indian government decided to fund an ODA project on the establishment of the Viet Nam-India English Training Centre in Da Nang.

Officially opened on 14 February, 2009, the centre is now located at 186 Tran Phu, Da Nang, and it has operated effectively to date.

Noticeably, the Da Nang branch of the Viet Nam-India Friendship Association was established on 2 October, 2014, aiming at strengthening the bilateral friendship, cooperation and mutual understanding between the South Asian country with Da Nang, and with Viet Nam as a whole.

As scheduled, Indian President Ram Nath Kovind will pay visits to the Da Nang Museum of Cham Sculpture and the world cultural heritage My Son Sanctuary in the neighbouring Quang Nam Province.

Afterwards, the Indian leader will leave for Ha Noi to begin his state-level visit to Viet Nam.

This is the first State visit to Viet Nam by President Kovind, and also his first trip to Asia since he took office in July 2017.

It holds significance in consolidating and developing the thriving Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership.

In Ha Noi on 20 November, the President will hold talks with General Secretary of the Communist Party of Viet Nam Central Committee and President Nguyen Phu Trong, and meet National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.