The Vice President of India, Shri M. Venkaiah Naidu, embarked on an official journey to Vietnam from 9th to 12th of May in 2019. The visit has been instrumental in bolstering the bilateral relationship between India and Vietnam. It provided an opportune moment to review various areas of collaboration within the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and engage with Vietnam’s leadership.
Renewed Commitment to Strengthen Cooperation
India and Vietnam reaffirmed their commitment to fortify cooperation in crucial sectors such as defence and security, atomic energy, outer space exploration, oil and gas, renewable energy, agriculture, and innovation-based fields. The focus of this reinforced collaboration is on areas that are instrumental for sustainable national development and progress.
Enhancing Trade and Investments
Both nations acknowledged the need to intensify their trade and investments. They pledged to facilitate direct air connectivity, which would serve to enhance tourism, strengthen trade connections, and foster people-to-people relations.
Building a Peaceful and Prosperous Indo-Pacific Region
India and Vietnam reiterated the essence of fostering a peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. This vision aims to uphold respect for national sovereignty and adherence to international law. Both countries expressed their full commitment towards an open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based regional structure. This setup is envisioned to safeguard freedom of navigation, secure unimpeded economic activities, and ensure the peaceful settlement of disputes according to international law.
| Key Cooperation Areas | Significance |
|---|---|
| Defence and security | Safeguard national and regional peace |
| Atomic energy and outer space | Promote scientific and technological advancement |
| Oil and Gas, Renewable Energy | Sustainable exploitation of energy resources |
| Agriculture and innovation-based sectors | Boost national economies and technological innovation |
| Trade and Investment | Enhance economic integration and mutual growth |
Vietnam’s Appreciation for India’s Development Partnership
Vietnam expressed appreciation for India’s long-standing development partnership, particularly in scholarships and training programmes, concessional Lines of Credit for defence industry cooperation, and implementing other socio-cultural infrastructure projects. These initiatives serve as a testament to India’s commitment under the grants-in-aid scheme.
Vice President’s Address and Observance
The Vice President delivered a keynote address at the 16th UN Day of Vesak at the Tam Chuc Pagoda in Hanam Province in Vietnam. Vesak, also known as Buddha Jayanti, is traditionally celebrated by Buddhists as ‘Buddha’s Birthday’. Moreover, he paid his respects at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs and at the Ho Chi Minh Mausoleum at Hanoi. These visits symbolize the reverence towards past struggles and achievements.
