The visit demonstrated Vietnam ’s consistent policy of strengthening and developing its traditional friendship and comprehensive partnership with India.

While in India, Ms Doan received Foreign Minister S.M. Krishna, President of the Indian National Congress and Leader of the United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Sonia Gandhi, General Secretary of the Communist Party of India (CPI) A.B. Bardhan, politburo member of the Communist Party of India-Marxist M.K. Pandhe, and Leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Shri L.K Advani. 

At a reception for Foreign Minister Krishna, she urged India to sign a memorandum of understanding on its recognition of Vietnam as a market economy and cooperate more closely with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). 

The Vietnamese Vice President voiced support for India’s bid to run for a permanent seat at the United Nations Security Council. 

Having affirmed India ’s wish to step up cooperative ties with Vietnam in various fields, Foreign Minister Krishna said the Indian cabinet will soon approve the granting of a market economy status to Vietnam. 

In her talks with Doan, Mrs Gandhi recalled the warm sentiments the Indian people and the Gandhi family have extended to President Ho Chi Minh and the Vietnamese people. 

Ms Gandhi asked Ms Doan to convey her invitation to the leadersip of the Communist Party of Vietnam to attend celebrations of the 125^th anniversary of the Indian National Congress. 

Earlier, the Vietnamese Vice President held talks with her Indian counterpart, Mohamed Hamid Ansari, to discuss ways of furthering cooperation in all fields. 

She attended the Vietnam-India Business Forum to introduce Vietnam ’s socio-economic achievements as well as its renewal successes over the recent years. 

Ms Doan said Vietnam-India economic relations have grown rapidly, with two-way trade surging 67 percent last year to reach US$2.47 billion. 

By the end of June 2009, India had invested a total of US$195.6 million in 30 projects, ranking 27 among 76 countries and territories investing in Vietnam. 

However, Ms Doan said, economic and commercial ties are yet to match the potential and aspirations of both nations. She expressed her hope that the forum would help the two sides explore cooperation opportunities to boost two-way trade. 

The Vietnamese Vice President also pledged to continue improving the investment environment and create equal business conditions for foreign investors. 

During her visit, she laid wreaths at the monument to Mahatma Gandhi and called at staff of the Vietnamese embassy and representative agencies in India.