AI and High Tech Open New Cooperation Opportunities for Vietnam, India
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Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong.

Could you elaborate on the purpose and significance of General Secretary and President To Lam’s State visit to India?

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong: At the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam, together with a high-level Vietnamese delegation, will pay a State visit to the Republic of India from May 5 to 7, 2026.

This visit is an important external relations event of special significance. It marks the first visit to India by the General Secretary and President in his new capacity, taking place as the two countries celebrate the 10th anniversary of the establishment of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2016-2026).

The visit demonstrates Vietnam’s high regard for the Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as well as for South Asia more broadly. It is also a highly meaningful occasion for the two countries to consolidate and strengthen relations across all areas, while reviewing the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership framework over the past decade. From there, both sides can generate new momentum and shape a higher-level framework for bilateral cooperation in the coming period.

In addition, the visit will help highlight the orientations and objectives of Vietnam and India in sharing a common vision and strategic interests, ensuring that each country remains a substantive priority in the other’s foreign policy. It will also provide an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on issues of mutual concern and enhance mutual support at regional and international forums.

It can be said that this State visit to India by the General Secretary and President is also a vivid demonstration of the foreign policy line of our Party and State in the new era, as set out in the Resolution of the 14th National Party Congress. This policy emphasizes independence, self-reliance, resilience, peace, friendship, cooperation and development, diversification and multilateralization of external relations, and responsible membership in the international community. Through the visit, Vietnam will continue to affirm itself as a friend, a reliable partner, and an active and responsible member of the international community, proactively and responsibly contributing to addressing common regional and global issues.

General Secretary and President To Lam meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the sidelines of the Summit of the Future and the High-Level General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly in New York, the United States, September 2024. (Photo: VNA)

Could you share some of the notable achievements in Vietnam-India relations in recent years? What key outcomes are expected from this visit by General Secretary and President To Lam?

Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Nguyen Manh Cuong: India is a traditional friendly partner in South Asia that we attach great importance to and wish to elevate to new heights. Over the years, Vietnam-India relations have developed steadily and consistently, becoming increasingly substantive. In particular, the establishment of the Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016 marked a qualitative leap in bilateral ties.

Currently, the two countries maintain more than 20 bilateral cooperation mechanisms across various fields and have signed numerous important agreements guiding the relationship. Political trust has been strengthened through regular exchanges of delegations at all levels, including high-level visits. Defense and security cooperation has been fairly in-depth, with joint training and capacity-building activities reflecting a high degree of mutual trust.

Economic and trade cooperation has grown strongly, with bilateral trade reaching approximately USD 15-16 billion annually in recent years. India is now among Vietnam’s top ten trading partners. Two-way investment continues to expand, with nearly 500 projects, while considerable potential remains for further breakthroughs in cooperation.

Notably, Vietnam and India are actively expanding cooperation into new areas such as science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, artificial intelligence, clean energy, and satellite data. Meanwhile, cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties between the two countries have also seen robust development.

At multilateral forums, Vietnam and India share a common vision of building an international order based on international law, strengthening multilateral institutions, and promoting peace, stability, and sustainable development. The two countries also maintain close coordination and mutual support at regional and international organizations and forums.

During this visit, General Secretary and President To Lam is expected to have a comprehensive program in the capital New Delhi as well as in Mumbai, India’s leading economic, financial, and science and technology hub. He will hold discussions with senior Indian leaders on strategic directions to enhance cooperation and create breakthroughs in potential areas such as science and technology, innovation, digital transformation, healthcare, clean energy, infrastructure, and the promotion of people-to-people, cultural, and religious exchanges. In addition to high-level talks and meetings, a range of dynamic and practical activities will be organized, including forums on finance, science and technology, and innovation. We expect this to be a genuine opportunity for the two countries to expand cooperation space, broaden trade and investment markets, strengthen supply chains, and enhance science and technology cooperation to attract resources for development.

It can be affirmed that this State visit to India by General Secretary and President To Lam reflects the shared determination to elevate the traditional Vietnam-India friendship, which has a long-standing history and deep strategic significance. We believe the visit will become an important political milestone, shaping a higher-level framework for Vietnam-India relations, thereby delivering tangible benefits to people and businesses, contributing to the realization of each country’s sustainable development goals, and promoting peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the region.

Thank you very much!

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