Vietnam Min. Calls 2013 As Iran-Vietnam Friendship Year

Hanoi, Jan 28, IRNA - Vietnamese Minister for Public Security Tran Dai Quang named 2013 as Iran and Vietnam’s friendship year. He made the remarks Sunday in a meeting with Iranˈs Ambassador to Vietnam, Hossein Alvandi Behine in Hanoi. Quang welcomed expansion of relations with Tehran in all areas, particularly in field of public security, and noted that the Vietnamese people are keen to become more familiar with the Iranian culture through Iranian cultural programs in this region. Iranian ambassador to Vietnam, for his part, pointed to the historical background of Tehran and Hanoi in defense of their independence and stressed the expansion of ties between the two countries. “Iran is ready to transfer its experience in all fields, including the campaign against drug trafficking and help Vietnam’s police in this field. Tehran is slated to celebrate the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations with Hanoi by holding a cultural week and Film festival in the Iranian capital. Iran and Vietnam enjoy excellent and high potentials to develop economic cooperation. President Mahmoud Ahmadinejadˈs recent visit to Vietnam was a great step forward for expansion of Tehran-Hanoi ties. Ahmadinejad met with his Vietnamese counterpart Truong Tan Sang in Hanoi in November. At the meeting, Ahmadinejad reiterated that Tehran sees no boundary for expanding economic, industrial, cultural, scientific, and technological relations with Vietnam. Ahmadinejad added that the two countries are determined to enhance their mutual cooperation. ˈIran is determined to make use of the huge potential of the two countries to develop each otherˈs economies,ˈ the Iranian president at the time./end