Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the Vietnamese high-ranking delegation have just successfully concluded a state visit to India at the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh's visit to India contributes to strengthening political trust and further deepening the Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, while also contributing to the prosperity and development of the region and the world.

Sharing strategic visions

In New Delhi, in an atmosphere of friendship, warmth and trust, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held important talks and meetings with senior Indian leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, President Droupadi Murmu, and Jagdeep Dhankhar, Vice President and Chairman of the Indian Upper House (Rajya Sabha). 

As one of the first foreign leaders invited by Indian PM Narendra Modi after his re-election for the third term, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh congratulated Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the BJP, and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on their historic victory in the recent 18th Lok Sabha (lower house) election. 

The Prime Minister expressed his belief that under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India will achieve the vision of “Viksit Bharat 2047” and realise the 100-year goal of making India a developed country by 2047, with an increasingly high role and position in the international arena. 

On behalf of himself and the people of India, PM Narendra Modi expressed his deep condolences for the great loss of the country and people of Vietnam, affirming that General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong was a close friend of the people of India. The South Asian nation always appreciates the valuable contributions made by the Vietnamese Party chief to the relationship between the two countries.

Emphasising the importance of the long-standing friendship and tradition between India and Vietnam, and the strong development of bilateral relations since the two countries upgraded their relations to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016, the two prime ministers agreed to continue to effectively implement the results of recent high-level visits and contacts, including the Vietnam-India Joint Vision Statement on Peace, Prosperity and People in 2020. 

Based on the good development of bilateral relations, the two sides agreed to maintain regular high-level visits and exchanges at all levels. Emphasising that the current geo-political realities call for closer cooperation between Vietnam and India, the two Prime Ministers expressed support for a greater voice and role for the Global South in international affairs. 

They welcomed the signing of a plan of action for the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the period of 2024-2028. The leaders appreciated the multi-dimensional institutional mechanisms between the two countries in the fields of foreign policy, security and maritime domain, defence cooperation, parliamentary exchanges, trade and investment, agriculture, healthcare, civil aviation, information and communication technology, tourism and culture, and science and technology — including space & nuclear technology . They agreed to intensify and strengthen the bilateral dialogue in various domains, including the Joint Commission for Economic, Trade, Science and Technology for mutual benefit.

Recognising that defence and security cooperation continues to be an important pillar in bilateral relations, the two Prime Ministers welcomed the effective implementation of the Joint Vision Statement on India-Vietnam Defence Partnership towards 2030 and the strengthening of defence cooperation in recent years — covering dialogues, training and capacity building cooperation, exchange of best practices, exercises, defence policy, and industry cooperation. The two sides agreed to further strengthen defence cooperation based on common priorities and interests, thus contributing to greater stability in the Indo-Pacific region. The two Prime Ministers welcomed the signing of two projects using the 300 million USD Line of Credit extended by the Government of India to the Government of Vietnam for defence procurement.

The two leaders agreed to promote cooperation, as well as capacity building in the fields of oceanography, marine science, and blue economy. Accordingly, the two sides agreed for the early operationalisation of the Implementing Arrangement on Hydrography and forming a Joint Committee.

Sharing views on the key role of ASEAN’s Centrality in the evolving regional architecture for peace, stability, and prosperity, the two prime ministers expressed their wish to further consolidate the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, thereby contributing to complementing bilateral relations with respective member states.

The leaders appreciated the ASEAN-India Joint Statement on Cooperation on the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP) for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region, which highlights opportunities for further cooperation between the AOIP and Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.

During the visit, the two sides adopted a Joint Statement on Enhancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and the Republic of India. 

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi pressed the button to inaugurate the Army Software Park in Nha Trang and witnessed the handover of cooperation documents signed between ministries, sectors and agencies of the two countries in areas such as law and justice; radio and television; finance; culture and cultural preservation; tourism; medicinal plant production; agriculture; education; training; etc. 

The highlights are the Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Action Plan in the 2024-2028 period and the Diplomatic Note on Vietnam joining the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI).

Cooperation towards the future

Two-way trade has skyrocketed since the establishment of a bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, tripling from over 5 billion USD in 2016 to 15 billion USD in 2023. The opening of the first direct air route between the two countries in 2019 dramatically increased the number of Indian tourist arrivals in Vietnam 2.5 times higher, from 170,000 in 2019 to 400,000 in 2023, with 54 flights a week between major cities of the two countries.

The two PMs agreed to foster cooperation between the governments and businesses of the two countries to enhance bilateral trade, investment as well as technology partnerships. The two sides agreed to expand cooperation in science-technology, particularly in core technology, semi-conductor chips, AI, and innovation. 

The two sides agreed to cooperate more closely in removing trade barriers to facilitate and promote bilateral trade, in order to raise two-way trade to 20 billion USD. They concurred that the ongoing review of ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement should generate a more user-friendly, simple, and trade facilitative regime for both countries.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged India to actively consider proposals from Vietnamese firms regarding the issuance and renewal of the Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS) certificates for goods imported from Vietnam.

The leaders agreed to continue efforts to promote investment flow between the two countries. Vietnam welcomed investment from India in infrastructure, high technology, source technology, clean technology, information technology, support and manufacturing industries, textiles, the automobile and materials industry, green agriculture, smart agriculture, innovation and startups, semi-conductors, renewable energy and energy conservation projects, electricity generation, biogas, and polyester fabrics, among other fields.

India welcomes investment flow from Vietnam in the fields of agriculture, agricultural product processing, seafood, wood processing, information technology, battery manufacturing, infrastructure and urban development, bamboo and forestry products, travel and tourism, digital technology, electric vehicles, healthcare, and services.

India especially welcomes Vietnam's decision to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure and to soon complete internal procedures to officially join the International Solar Alliance.

Affirming the importance of digital technology and sharing the national priorities of both Vietnam and India regarding digital transformation and energy transition, the two prime ministers agreed to encourage increased exchanges and cooperation in fields such as digital infrastructure, space technology applications, renewable energy, biotechnology, and disaster-resilient technology.

Noteworthy is the establishment of the Centre for High-Performance Development and Training at the Ho Chi Minh City Post and Telecommunications Institute and the Military Software Park at the University of Telecommunications in Nha Trang under the support of the Indian Government.

In addition, the two Prime Ministers agreed to enhance the sharing of experiences in formulating regulations and policies to support and promote e-commerce and the digital economy. This includes supporting businesses from both countries in participating in digital and e-commerce platforms to leverage the advantages of e-commerce in enhancing export capabilities and sustainably integrating into regional and global value chains.

Also, in the capital city of New Delhi, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh urged the Indian Senate to continue supporting cooperation with Vietnam in all fields, primarily in traditional pillars such as defence-security, economics, and trade, while also expanding into new potential areas such as science and technology, information and communications, renewable energy, green economy, digital economy, and artificial intelligence. Both sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and cooperation between their parliaments and share experiences between specialised committees and among parliamentarians.

Based on the historical and heritage links between the two countries, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Prime Minister Narendra Modi jointly supported further exchanges among the Buddhist dignitaries, pilgrims, and students, as well as the development of institutions and Buddhist faith facilities from the two countries.

The two sides agreed to soon sign a cooperation agreement on tourism, striving to double the current number of tourists to around 400,000 per year, as well as to continue cooperating in the restoration and preservation of the Champa Towers heritage site in My Son Town, Quang Nam Province, and further diversify people-to-people exchanges.

Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s State visit to India is a testament to the deep and traditional friendship between the two countries as well as an affirmation of the importance and mutual support each country places on the other within their overall foreign policy framework.

This first visit by a Vietnamese Prime Minister to India since the two countries established the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016 contributes to promoting substantive and effective developments in politics, diplomacy, defence, security, economics, trade, and investment between the two countries.

Published: August 2, 2024
Production Manager: CHU HONG THANG – PHAM TRUONG SON
Content: NINH SON – HONG DUY
Design: NHA NAM