According to Vietnam's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung met with Ambassador Sherpa on July 15 and once again expressed his deepest condolences over the accident, which occurred on July 11 in the waters off An Giang Province.

The minister conveyed Vietnam's sympathy to the government and people of India, particularly to the families of those who lost their lives.

He said Vietnam's senior leaders had attached great importance to the tragedy, sending messages of condolence to Indian leaders and directing relevant agencies to work closely with Indian authorities in search and rescue operations, provide medical treatment for survivors, assist victims' families, and facilitate the repatriation of the deceased.

Le Hoai Trung also praised the close cooperation of India's diplomatic mission in Vietnam throughout the emergency response.

He said Vietnamese authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident, will strictly address any violations identified during the investigation, and are reviewing safety regulations to help prevent similar incidents in the future.

Ambassador Sherpa expressed his sincere appreciation for the concern, sympathy, and prompt assistance provided by Vietnam's Party and State leaders, the government, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, authorities in An Giang Province, and other Vietnamese agencies from the moment the accident occurred.

He said the close cooperation between Vietnamese and Indian authorities enabled all victims' bodies to be repatriated to India, allowing their families to conduct funeral rites in accordance with local customs.

The ambassador also noted that those injured had received attentive medical care and were gradually recovering.

Sherpa said he was deeply moved by the compassion shown by the Vietnamese people, adding that their messages of condolence and solidarity had provided comfort to the Indian government, the victims' families, and the wider Indian public during a period of profound loss.

Le Hoai Trung said the solidarity demonstrated during the tragedy reflected the enduring friendship between Vietnam and India, describing it as a valuable foundation for the continued development of the two countries' Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The minister also thanked the Indian Embassy for its close cooperation in implementing the outcomes of Vietnamese Party General Secretary and State President To Lam's state visit to India in May.

He called on both sides to continue implementing high-level agreements comprehensively and on schedule, while maintaining regular coordination to resolve any obstacles and further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Tran Thuong