Krishna meets Vietnamese and Moroccan dignitaries

New Delhi, Apr 7 (ANI): External Affairs Minister S M Krishna on Thursday met Hoang Binh Quan, the Chairman of the Communist Party of Vietnam, and Moroccan Foreign Minister Taieb Fassi-Fihri.

The meetings focused on ways to improve bilateral ties between the two countries.

Bilateral relations between India and Vietnam have traditionally been friendly, and have been strengthened considerably on issues such as terrorism, trade and regional security

Growing economic and commercial engagement, especially in recent years, has marked India's relations with Vietnam.

Two-way India-Vietnam trade grew over ten times to reach USD 2.75 billion in 2010.

India figures among Vietnam's ten largest exporters.

Relations between India and Morocco date back to the 14th century when Ibn Batuta, a traveler, visited India.

India has been active in supporting Moroccan the freedom movement and recognised Morocco as an independent nation on June 20, 1956.

Over the years, bilateral relations between the two countries have grown.

India is a major market for Moroccan phosphate and its derivatives. Other exports include metallic ores and metal scrap, semi-finished products and inorganic chemicals.

India's exports cotton yarn, synthetic fiber, transport equipment, pharmaceuticals, agricultural implements, chemicals, spices and manufactured metals to Morocco.

Bilateral trade in ten years has reached US 1.19 billion dollars in 2008-09. (ANI)