Highlighting Buddhism as a shared heritage that spiritually connects India and Vietnam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited Vietnamese citizens to embark on a pilgrimage to India's Buddhist heartlands.
During a press briefing in New Delhi on August 1, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended a heartfelt invitation to Vietnamese citizens to participate in a pilgrimage to India’s sacred Buddhist sites. This gesture highlights the spiritual and cultural connections between India and Vietnam as both countries continue to fortify their comprehensive strategic partnership.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi meet with the press. Photo: Nhat Bac
At the press conference, Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed condolences on the passing of Vietnamese General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, whom he described as a good friend of India. He emphasized that under the leadership of the late General Secretary, Vietnam-India relations had achieved new directions for development.
Reviewing the accomplishments in bilateral cooperation, Prime Minister Modi noted that the relationship was elevated to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016, with bilateral trade increasing by 85%.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the press conference. Photo: Nhat Bac
The discussions between Prime Minister Modi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh covered all aspects of bilateral cooperation and outlined future directions. To enhance the comprehensive strategic partnership, both countries agreed on a new cooperation framework and approved a multi-million-dollar credit package for maritime collaboration, counter-terrorism, and cybersecurity.
Both leaders emphasized focusing cooperation on emerging fields, leveraging each other’s strengths to foster business connections.
The Indian Prime Minister stated that during today's talks, both sides discussed in detail all areas of bilateral cooperation and prepared directions for future collaboration. Photo: Nhat Bac
Prime Minister Modi highlighted Buddhism as a common heritage that spiritually connects India and Vietnam. He extended an invitation to the Vietnamese people to embark on a pilgrimage to India’s Buddhist sites, expressing hope for stronger cultural ties.
"The visit of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh has opened a new chapter in our bilateral relations," Prime Minister Modi affirmed.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the press conference. Photo: Nhat Bac
During his remarks, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh expressed gratitude for the warm reception from Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Indian people, noting the close and welcoming atmosphere. He expressed confidence that under Prime Minister Modi's leadership in his third consecutive term, India would continue to bring benefits to its people and achieve the ambitious "Viksit Bharat 2047" vision of becoming a developed nation by 2047.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh shared a strategic vision for addressing global challenges, emphasizing the need for comprehensive thinking and close cooperation among nations.
He acknowledged the significant progress in Vietnam-India relations since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016. Both leaders reaffirmed their commitment to prioritizing and valuing each other in their foreign policies.
Vietnam and India stand side by side throughout history, the present, and into the future. Photo: Minh Nhat
Vietnam and India have stood by each other throughout history, striving to elevate their bilateral relations and strengthen their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in a new strategic phase.
Both leaders agreed on the high political trust, cultural similarities, and economic complementarities between Vietnam and India. They share aspirations for building prosperous and happy nations for their citizens.
"On this basis, Prime Minister Modi and I, along with senior representatives from both countries, have agreed to adopt a Joint Declaration on enhancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during this visit and promote cooperation with the '5 More' approach," Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stated.
1. Higher Political and Strategic Trust: Increase annual exchanges and contacts across Party, State, National Assembly, and people-to-people channels. Maximize the effectiveness of bilateral cooperation mechanisms and implement the action program for 2024-2028, focusing on 11 traditional and emerging areas such as digital and green transformation.
2. Broader and Deeper Defense and Security Cooperation: Effectively implement the Joint Declaration on Vietnam-India Defense Partnership through 2030.
3. More Substantive and Effective Economic, Trade, and Investment Cooperation: Aim to double bilateral trade and investment within the next 3-5 years.
4. Stronger Motivation from Science and Technology, and Innovation Cooperation: Promote scientific research, nuclear energy, rare earths, renewable energy, and new technologies such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and cloud computing.
5. Closer Cultural, Tourism, and People-to-People Exchanges: Strengthen cultural connections and exchanges.
The two countries continue to cooperate and support each other at multilateral forums. Photo: Minh Nhat
The leaders agreed to deepen regional and international cooperation, continuing to coordinate and support each other at multilateral forums.
“Vietnam strongly supports India’s Act East Policy and acknowledges India’s growing role in regional and global cooperative institutions,” Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh affirmed.
During this visit, Vietnam decided to join the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and committed to completing procedures to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA) proposed by India. Both sides agreed to establish economic diplomacy consultations at the Deputy Foreign Minister level.
Additionally, both countries reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security, and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea, resolving disputes through peaceful means based on international law, especially UNCLOS 1982.
On this occasion, both countries signed nine key cooperation documents in defense, diplomacy, justice, culture, health, scientific research, and human resource training, as well as several economic, trade, and investment agreements between businesses.
Vietnamnet.vn
Podcast
.svg){kind=icon}
