The Hindu : National : Vietnam is an expression of courage, says Pranab Mukherjee

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Monday, Sep 03, 2007
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Vietnam is an expression of courage, says Pranab Mukherjee

Special Correspondent

We are facing new economic challenges: Madame Binh

— Photo: Arunangsu Roy Chowdhury.

Hand of friendship: Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee; CPI(M) leader Jyoti Basu; freedom fighter of Vietnam Madame Nguyen Thi Binh; Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee, West Bengal Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee and Polit Bureau member and MP Sitaram Yechury at the inaugural of the Indo-Vietnam Friendship Festival 2007 in Kolkata on Sunday.

Kolkata: “We are now facing new challenges for a more equitable economic order in the form of the negative aspects of globalisation. That is why a friendly relationship is required [between India and Vietnam] of both the heart and the mind”, Nguyen Thi Binh, the legendary revolutionary leader of Vietnam, said here on Sunday. Speaking at the inauguration of the three-day Indo-Vietnam Friendship Festival 2007, organised by the West Bengal State Committee, she welcomed the strategic partnership signed between the countries.

Madame Binh recalled the “support and solidarity which were an enormous source of encouragement in our [Vietnam’s] struggle for independence and freedom.”

Veteran Marxist leader Jyoti Basu, who presided, said that despite the defeat inflicted on the U.S., the “most powerful imperialist power in the world,” by a small country like Vietnam, the fight against imperialism was continuing.

Before presenting Madame Binh a collection of documents entitled “Marching Together for Peace and Prosperity: A Saga of India-Vietnam Friendship,” Mr. Basu said: “Even today we are having to continue that fight against the same U.S.A.”

Minister for External Affairs, Pranab Mukherjee, said, “Vietnam is essentially an emotive expression and not just a geographical expression for the people of this country,” Minister for External Affairs Pranab Mukherjee said. “It is an expression of courage, indomitable spirit and strong determination to reach the ultimate goal in the struggle against imperialist forces, social obscurantism and poverty,” he added.

Vietnam, he said, had played a major role in opening up a dialogue between India and the ASEAN group of countries and had now taken on the responsibility of being the “coordination country” in this regard. The volume of bilateral trade between India and Vietnam was also expected to reach $200 crore by 2010, he added.

Chief Minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee said Vietnam held a critical position in the ascendancy in power of South and South East Asia — a region with “which we want a deeper relationship.”

After its victory over U.S. imperialism that had taught the colonised world to “raise its head,” Vietnam is “fighting a new war which it is now winning,” Mr. Bhattacharjee said.

He was referring to Vietnam’s economic development, evident in its rapid developments in agriculture and industry. Vietnam was able to draw the largest number of foreign investment compared to other nations of South East Asia.

Describing Madame Binh as “one of the greatest fighters against imperialism and fascism,” Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee said that she is “one of the makers of Vietnam and represents the great spirit of that country.”

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