India, Vietnam elevate ties to enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership: Prime Minister Narendra Modi

The ties between India and Vietnam have been elevated to Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, said Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday, May 6.

Addressing a joint press conference with Vietnamese President To Lam after their talks at the Hyderabad House in national capital, Prime Minister Modi called Vietnam a “key pillar” of India’s Act East policy and Vision Mahasagar, IANS reported.

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“One decade back, during my first visit to Vietnam, Vietnam became India’s first Comprehensive Strategic Partner in ASEAN. Since then, our relations have made rapid and comprehensive progress,” PM Modi said.

“Along with the civilisational ties, our trade, technology and tourism ties have also strengthened. Building on this strong foundation, today we are taking our relations to the level of an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” he added.

According to IANS, the Prime Minister has extended a warm welcome to the Vietnamese President. “I am immensely pleased to extend a hearty welcome to President To Lam in India. After becoming President of Vietnam, his visit to India within just one month, accompanied by a high-level delegation along with several business leaders, clearly demonstrates the priority he accords to India-Vietnam relations,” he said.

He shared that President To Lam began his visit to India from Bodh Gaya, which reflects the shared civilisational and spiritual heritage of our two nations.

“Through his visit and our meaningful discussions, we are transforming the goodwill between us into concrete outcomes,” he said.

Further, Prime Minister Modi highlighted that over 1.5 crore people had ‘darshan’ of Buddhist relics when they were exhibited in Vietnam last year. He noted that heritage and development hold significance in the India-Vietnam partnership.

Moreover, PM Modi stated that the two nations share a common outlook in the Indo-Pacific region, besides announcing that India look forward to broaden its ties with ASEAN with Vietnam’s cooperation.

“Vietnam is a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy and Vision Mahasagar. In the Indo-Pacific region as well, we share a common outlook. Through our strengthening defence and security cooperation, we will continue to contribute to the rule of law, peace, stability, and prosperity. With Vietnam’s cooperation, India will also broaden its relations with ASEAN,” Prime Minister Modi said.

He has expressed gratitude to Vietnam for condemning the terrorist attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Pahalgam and backing New Delhi in the fight against terrorism. “We are grateful to Vietnam for strongly condemning the Pahalgam terror attack and for standing with us in our fight against terrorism. In this period of global upheaval and economic challenges, India and Vietnam are emerging as the world’s fastest-growing economies on the strength of their talent, good governance and economic reforms,” the Prime Minister said.