India's PM Narendra Modi meeting with General Secreatry and President of Vietnam To Lam at Hyderabad House, in New Delhi on May 06, 2026. Photo Credit: India Prime Minister Office

General Secretary and State President To Lam and Prime Minister Modi discussed strengthening the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that was upgraded during the latter’s visit to Vietnam in 2016.

Bilateral ties were elevated to an enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership. Both sides set a target to boost trade to $25 billion by 2030 as Modi and To Lam focused on expanding cooperation in trade, defence and critical minerals.

The high-ranking Vietnamese delegation travelled to India’s financial hub, Mumbai, to bolster two-way commerce, which has doubled over the past decade to almost $16 billion. A total of 13 agreements were concluded, including one on rare earths that indicated the importance both attached to supply chain resilience amid diversification. In fact, Vietnam had become India’s first comprehensive strategic partner in the ASEAN region in 2016, which was now elevated to enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership. This will bolster cooperation in connectivity, security, sustainability and supply chain resilience. With trade target now fixed at $25 billion by 2030, both sides signed MoU to boost India’s drug exports to Vietnam.

Exports of Indian agricultural, fisheries and animal products to Vietnam are also set to become easier. Very soon, Vietnam will taste Indian grapes and pomegranates, while Indians shall get to taste Vietnam’s durians and pomelos. Also, new initiatives in critical minerals and energy cooperation will ensure economic security and supply chain resilience.

And PM Modi discussed boosting defence cooperation with Vietnam as Vietnam is an important partner in the Indo-Pacific. Indeed, defence and security cooperation are important pillars in India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. India premises its strategic argument that Vietnam will serve the cause of peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific.

India expands diplomatic engagements in May

In this major diplomatic outreach, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also travelled abroad after sending a message to Indian envoys on building India’s image at the Heads of Mission Conference and exhorting them to be proactive.

India is going to host a number of leaders from BRICS and Quad groupings, Africa, Europe, Asia, and the Indian Ocean Region in this month itself. Jaishankar travelled to Kingston, Jamaica, on 3 May on a nine-day visit to the Caribbean “CARICOM” grouping of countries, after which he went to Suriname and Trinidad and Tobago.

During his visit to Jamaica, Jaishankar held discussions with his counterpart, Kamina J. Smith, on India’s ongoing transformation in infrastructure, human development, technology-driven governance, and entrepreneurship. The two sides signed three MoUs for cooperation in health and medicine, solar electrification of the Jamaican foreign ministry building and collaboration between the state-run broadcasting bodies. Both sides also reviewed the status of implementation of existing agreements in digital transformation, culture, sports and digital payments and emphasised the importance of ensuring tangible outcomes. They also acknowledged the completion of a project in Kitton Town under the India-UN Development Partnership Fund which was implemented by the Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and benefitted more than 200 Jamaicans.

In the second half of May, more diplomatic programs of India are slotted. India shall be welcoming Cyprus President Christodoulides in Mumbai and Delhi during 20-23 May, to be followed by the visit by the US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on his first visit after assuming office when Jaishankar hosts the Quad Foreign Ministers’ meeting along with his Japanese and Australian counterparts on 26 May. This month shall end with India hosting the India-Africa Summit on 28-30 May.