Also attending were Consul General of the Republic of India in Ho Chi Minh City - Madan Mohan Sethi; Chairman of Vietnam - India Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City - Huynh Thanh Lap.
Former President - Truong Tan Sang presents the Indian Ambassador with the bandana of the Cu Chi Tunnels Revolutionary Base
At the meeting, former State President Truong Tan Sang emotionally recalled the friendship between the people of the two countries throughout the long history of fighting for independence and building the country. The two sides have always supported each other on the foundation of pure and faithful friendship that President Ho Chi Minh and the late Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru laid the foundation for. Former State President Truong Tan Sang wished India further development, actively contributing to peace and friendship in the Asia Pacific region and affirmed that the Vietnamese people will always be close friends of India.
Talking with the Ambassador, former State President - Truong Tan Sang expressed his confidence in the forecast indicators that by 2030, India will rise to the 3rd largest economic power in the world. At the same time, he also wished that people-to-people exchange and bilateral trade activities between Vietnam and India would become even stronger, thereby increasing connectivity through increasing the number of direct flights between Vietnam and India each week.
Approving the contents discussed by former State President Truong Tan Sang, Ambassador Sandeep Arya said that he himself was an international guest attending the recent 70th Anniversary of the Dien Bien Phu Victory. On this occasion, he met the former State President. It can be said that he himself as well as many international friends who are Ambassadors, Heads of foreign representative agencies in Vietnam all share the same feelings of respect and admiration for his heroic Dien Bien Phu Victory of Vietnam. Introducing Southern cuisine to Indian friends, the former State President invited the Ambassador and his Indian friends to enjoy Southern pancakes served with mixed dipping sauce and rolled with vegetables in the local traditional way. The Ambassador said he felt a special flavor from the dish. "I want to learn how to make it" - he said.
Former State President - Truong Tan Sang and Indian Ambassador - Sandeep Arya emotionally discuss the pure and faithful friendship between the two peoples.
Regarding the results of Vietnam - India people-to-people exchanges in Ho Chi Minh City, the Chairman of the Vietnam - India Friendship Association in Ho Chi Minh City informed the Ambassador about the results of the Association's delegation's trip to India in April 2024. The trip helped the Executive Committee members increase contact and introduce people-to-people diplomacy activities, similar cultural features, scientific and technological achievements, quality and productivity of tree varieties to serve the lives of a people, ancient architectural works, traditional craftsmanship, carving art, relic preservation, medical tourism, combining tradition and modernity to organize organize cultural and entertainment activities, etc within the scope of Vietnam - India people-to-people exchanges. In the coming time, VIFA will continue to promote people-to-people exchange activities in Ho Chi Minh City, especially promoting bilateral exchanges in the fields of culture, sports, and education.
On this occasion, the spouse of former State President Truong Tan Sang introduced and invited the Ambassador and members of the working delegation to use Vietnam's new hybrid agricultural products, which are hybrid fruits grown in a direction that is beneficial to health, reducing calories, for example, reducing the sugar content of mangoes, or San Tien plum that no longer has the astringent taste, which is a limitation in the flavor of plums. The Indian Ambassador emotionally expressed that former State President Truong Tan Sang's concern for agricultural development is not just a job, but a very special love and inspiration. He also said that the Ambassador's father and father-in-law were also farmers, so coming here today, he felt comfortable understanding and synchronizing with each other.
At the meeting, former State President - Truong Tan Sang also took the delegation to visit the Giong Dua Historical Relic Area, which is a historical site of Inter-District Bases 5, 6, 7, 8, the Chinese Mobilization and Public Mobilization Board belonging to the Saigon - Cho Lon - Gia Dinh Party Committee, in Giong Lon hamlet, My Hanh Nam commune, Duc Hoa district, Long An province.
Former President - Truong Tan Sang invites the delegation to visit the Giong Dua historical relic site
Here, the Ambassador and Consul General and members of the delegation were introduced about stories and saw firsthand images of the Giong Dua revolutionary base relic site. Indian friends offered incense to commemorate the martyrs of Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers fell for the cause of national liberation. On this occasion, the former State President presented the Indian Ambassador with a Southern bandana from the Revolutionary Base of Cu Chi Tunnels, Ho Chi Minh City.
The Indian Ambassador expressed his admiration for the courageous and resilient spirit of the Vietnamese people. He affirmed that he always considers Vietnam a close and proud friend. The Ambassador himself deeply admired the long-standing traditional friendship, similarities, and valuable moral and humane values between the two peoples. He affirmed that with the contributions to the relations of peace - solidarity - friendship that the former President made in his previous and current positions as State President, he has become a shining example for the next generation to study, continue to preserve, promote and deepen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries, bringing practical benefits to the people, thereby enhancing mutual understanding and support between the two countries and peoples.
Former State President Truong Tan Sang shares about the secret bunker activity in the grounds of Phap Minh Pagoda, a place to hide and protect Vietnamese revolutionary soldiers
In a warm, sincere atmosphere, in the brave and resilient land of Long An, in front of sincere, gentle and hospitable Vietnamese friends, in the endless flow of friendship between Vietnam and India, Indian Ambassador Sandeep Arya excitedly shared: "When I came to this place, my heart was truly move. These are moments I cannot forget in all my life!”./.
By Ho Hien Chuong - Translated by Q. Thien
