Bhubaneswar:Odisha Governor Dr. Hari Babu Kambhampati, who is visiting Vietnam to bring back the holy relics of Lord Buddha taken to Vietnam, has proposed to establish provincial-level ties between Odisha and Da-Nang City of Vietnam. The Governor made the proposal during a meeting with His Excellency Le Trong Chinh, Chairman of Da-Nang People’s Committee on Monday.
On this occasion, the Governor said that Odisha is a state with rich history, strong cultural traditions and rapid economic growth. We also have many important Buddhist sites. If Da-Nang is interested, then we can establish ties between our two regions.
The Governor praised Da-Nang as a beautiful and historical city. Da-Nang has immense potential to become a major port, a hub of high technology, a hub of finance and tourism, the Governor said. The Governor further said that Da Nang’s location as a vibrant coastal city in Central Vietnam is important for economic and trade cooperation between India and Vietnam.
The Governor thanked the Government of Vietnam and the people of Da Nang for their warm hospitality and the excellent arrangements made for the sacred relics of Lord Buddha. The Government of India has provided appropriate protocols for the relics and relics and I am personally travelling to bring them back with me, he said. Buddhism has forged a strong connection between India and Vietnam for nearly 1,800 years. India values its Buddhist heritage and has given priority to the protection, preservation and promotion of Buddhist sites.
The Governor spoke about the growing partnership between India and Vietnam. The Governor said that the visit of the Prime Minister of Vietnam to India last year and the meeting between the Indian Prime Minister and the President and Party General Secretary of Vietnam To Lam in New York in 2024 have helped strengthen the ties between the two countries. The Governor said that cooperation between the two countries is expanding in areas such as trade, defense, tourism, health, digital economy, education and sustainable development, and appreciated Da Nang’s support in working with the Indian Embassy to promote yoga, cultural exchanges and educational ties. He also said that more direct flights between the two countries have helped improve people-to-people ties.
Governor Dr. Kambhampati shared his experience of visiting the UNESCO World Heritage Site in My Son in central Vietnam. Praising the work of the Indian archaeological team restoring the ancient temples, the Governor said that this project has become a strong symbol of the close historical and cultural connections between India and Vietnam.