Vietnam and India have agreed to strengthen cooperation in ethnic, religious and minority affairs during a series of high-level meetings held in New Delhi as part of General Secretary and State President To Lam’s state visit to India.
Accompanying the Vietnamese leader during the visit, Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyen Dinh Khang held separate talks on May 6 with Indian Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju and Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram.
The meetings took place as the traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between Vietnam and India continue to deepen in a more substantive and effective manner. The year 2026 also marks the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership framework.
Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyen Dinh Khang holds talks with Indian Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju.
During talks with the Indian Ministry of Minority Affairs, Nguyen Dinh Khang and Kiren Rijiju focused discussions on cooperation in religious affairs, belief-related policies and issues concerning minority communities.
Minister Khang praised the strong development of Vietnam-India relations in recent years, particularly since the two countries established their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016. He noted that cultural cooperation, religious exchange and people-to-people engagement have increasingly played an important role in reinforcing social foundations between the two nations.
The Vietnamese minister expressed appreciation for India’s contributions to promoting religious and cultural exchanges, especially Buddhist cooperation between the two countries. He highlighted the impact of events such as the 2025 United Nations Vesak celebrations hosted in Vietnam and the enshrinement procession of Buddha relics from India, which he said left a profound mark on Vietnam’s spiritual and cultural life while promoting values of peace and humanity.
Indian Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju presents flowers to Vietnamese Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyen Dinh Khang in a welcoming ceremony.
Introducing Vietnam’s domestic context, Khang stressed that Vietnam has a rich and diverse religious landscape. He reaffirmed that the Vietnamese State consistently respects and guarantees freedom of belief and religion while encouraging religious organizations to contribute to ethical values and social development.
The minister also praised the Indian Ministry of Minority Affairs for its role in designing and implementing policies for minority communities, particularly in education, vocational skills, social welfare, cultural preservation and social harmony. He said these experiences could provide valuable references for Vietnam as it continues improving policies and state management in religious affairs.
Indian Minister of Minority Affairs Kiren Rijiju presents a gift to Vietnamese Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyen Dinh Khang.
Based on a draft memorandum of understanding between the two ministries, both sides agreed to prioritize several key areas of cooperation, including annual delegation exchanges, thematic conferences and seminars, academic and theoretical information sharing, personnel training and stronger exchanges among religious organizations, scholars and dignitaries from both countries.
Khang emphasized that establishing an annual consultation mechanism and coordinating the implementation of the memorandum would be an important step toward ensuring focused, effective and regularly evaluated cooperation.
He also expressed hope that both sides would soon finalize and sign the memorandum to create a solid legal basis for long-term collaboration. The Vietnamese minister invited Kiren Rijiju to visit Vietnam in the near future to further promote bilateral ties.
Vietnamese Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyen Dinh Khang holds talks with Indian Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram.
In a separate meeting with Indian Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram, Minister Nguyen Dinh Khang highlighted the significance of the visit, describing it as an important opportunity to expand specialized cooperation in ethnic affairs and the development of ethnic minority and tribal communities.
He affirmed that Vietnam highly values its traditional friendship with India, a relationship built on shared historical experiences, cultural ties and common aspirations for independence and development. Cooperation in community development, cultural preservation and inclusive growth, he said, carries practical significance for both countries.
Khang noted that Vietnam is home to 54 ethnic groups and that ethnic solidarity remains a long-term strategic priority of the Party and State. Vietnam is currently implementing major policies, particularly the national target program on socio-economic development in ethnic minority and mountainous areas, focusing on infrastructure, education, healthcare, livelihoods and cultural preservation.
India, meanwhile, was recognized as a country with extensive experience in managing and developing ethnically diverse communities, especially tribal groups. Nguyen Dinh Khang praised the Indian Ministry of Tribal Affairs for implementing comprehensive development policies spanning education, healthcare, cultural preservation and livelihood support.
Minister Nguyen Dinh Khang praised the Indian Ministry of Tribal Affairs for its role in designing and implementing comprehensive development policies.
Indian Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram presents flowers to welcome Vietnamese Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs Nguyen Dinh Khang.Minister Nguyen Dinh Khang invited Indian Minister of Tribal Affairs Jual Oram to visit Vietnam in the near future.
Drawing from the experiences of both countries, the two sides agreed on several directions for future cooperation. Key priorities include increasing delegation exchanges, sharing policy-making and implementation experience, promoting cooperation in ethnic education and vocational training, and developing human resources.
The two countries also agreed to encourage cooperation in cultural preservation linked to community-based tourism and creative industries. Additional areas of focus include sustainable livelihood development, startup support and building value chains for indigenous products.
Both sides also agreed to coordinate seminars and thematic forums aimed at promoting inclusive development and ensuring that no communities are left behind.
Minister Khang proposed that the two ministries soon finalize an official cooperation framework to provide a stable legal foundation for long-term and effective collaboration. He also invited Jual Oram and his colleagues to visit Vietnam to continue sharing experiences and strengthening bilateral cooperation.
Vietnamnet.vn
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