Vietnam and India pledged to continue comprehensive cooperation at regional and international forums Thursday when Indian President Pratibha Devisingh Patil officially met with President Nguyen Minh Triet in Hanoi.

Triet thanked India for its recognition of Vietnam’s market economy status, and urged a memorandum of understanding on the issue as soon as possible.

He said that Vietnam supports India’s bid to become a permanent member of the extended United Nations Security Council and a nonpermanent council seat for the 2011- 2012 term.

Patil, on her first visit to Vietnam, said the two countries had nurtured their bilateral friendship for generations since it was founded by President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Neru.

The Indian president said India would like to intensify its traditional friendship, comprehensive cooperation and strategic partnership with Vietnam.

The two presidents discussed a wide range of measures to further promote cooperation in areas including politics, economics, trade, investment, nuclear energy, steel production, oil and gas and defense.

The leaders agreed to increase the exchange of visits at all levels, and to convene the Vietnam-India joint committee in 2009 to advance their strategic partnership.

Following the talks, Triet and Patil witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry and Association of Indian Businesses in Vietnam.

Source: VNA