President Droupadi Murmu received her Vietnamese counterpart, To Lam, at Rashtrapati Bhavan. She also hosted a banquet in honour of the visiting dignitary. The President said the elevation of India-Vietnam ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will not only provide momentum to the bilateral cooperation but also contribute to peace and prosperity in the region.

 

She said that India and Vietnam share a deep friendship rooted in historical, civilizational, and cultural ties. The President noted that in recent years, India-Vietnam bilateral relations have expanded across high-level exchanges, defence and security cooperation, development partnership, and sectors such as trade, health, science & technology, and tourism. She expressed happiness that during this visit, agreements and announcements had been made in important areas such as rare earth minerals, digital and financial technology, culture, and education.

 

The President was happy to note that India and Vietnam have decided to further strengthen relations through the Joint Statement on Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. She noted that over the past decade, the bilateral trade has grown significantly and India is keen to further expand trade in a balanced and mutually beneficial manner.

 

The President said that within the framework of our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with ASEAN, the relations with Vietnam are an important part of India’s ‘Act East’ policy and Indo-Pacific Vision. She appreciated Vietnam’s participation in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative. The President said that defence and security are important pillars of the India-Vietnam bilateral relations. She underlined India’s commitment to working together with Viet Nam to address shared challenges and promote regional peace and stability.

 

The two leaders agreed that close cooperation between India and Viet Nam can bring immense benefits to the people of both nations. The President expressed confidence that under the leadership of President To Lam, the India-Vietnam relations will grow even stronger.