Hanoi, July 18 (IANS) India's economic and technical support for Vietnam came in for praise from its President Truong Tan Sang Wednesday when an Indian delegation called on him here.

The Vietnamese president expressed satisfaction over the strengthening relationship with India. He referred to Vietnam's gratitude for economic and technical assistance provided by India over a long period, a statement from the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) delegation said.

The delegation was led by ICWA director general Rajiv Bhatia and was in Hanoi to attend an important bilateral seminar on India-Vietnam relations.

Bhatia took the opportunity of the delegation's meeting to brief the Vietnamese president on the purpose and outcome of the seminar co-hosted by the Diplomatic Academy of Vietnam and ICWA on Tuesday.

At the seminar, Vietnamese Deputy Prime Minister Nguyen Thien Nhan had called for setting up an Asia Forum to deliberate on capacity building in education, health, and human development.

Speaking at the seminar, Bhatia had emphasised on the need for closer cooperation between the two nations, that had long historical ties, in political, security, economic and energy domains.

India is helping Vietnam in the oil exploration business and has commercial agreements to explore key blocks in the South China Sea.