Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son welcomed Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar at the gate of Tran Quoc Pagoda (Hanoi).
Minister Bui Thanh Son introduced the history of the pagoda, as well as the special position of Tran Quoc Pagoda in the formation and development of Vietnamese Buddhism.
During his official visit to Vietnam from October 15 to 17, Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar will co-chair the 18th session of the Vietnam-India Joint Committee on Economic , Trade, Scientific and Technological Cooperation.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar walked through the triple-arched gate of the pagoda. Tran Quoc Pagoda is located on the east side of West Lake (Tay Ho District). The pagoda has a history of nearly 1,500 years and is considered the oldest in Thang Long - Hanoi . During the Ly and Tran dynasties, Tran Quoc Pagoda was the center of Buddhism in the capital city of Thang Long.
The two ministers offered incense at the main hall of Tran Quoc Pagoda; as it was the first day of the lunar month, there were quite a few Buddhists attending the ceremony at the pagoda.
Venerable Thich Thanh Nha, abbot of Tran Quoc Pagoda, introduced the pagoda's history. He presented the two ministers with two artistically crafted Bodhi leaves. Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar also presented the pagoda with a Bodhi leaf grafted from a Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, India.
Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar gazes at the Bodhi tree at Tran Quoc Pagoda. This Bodhi tree was a special gift from Indian President Rajendra Prasad during his visit to Vietnam in 1959. President Rajendra Prasad and President Ho Chi Minh planted the Bodhi tree in the courtyard of Tran Quoc Pagoda.
The Bodhi tree at Tran Quoc Pagoda was propagated from an ancient Bodhi tree at Bodh Gaya (India), where Buddha attained enlightenment.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son and Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar walk past the ancient stupa at Tran Quoc Pagoda.
Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son shook hands with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar in front of a stone plaque detailing the Bodhi tree. Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar thanked Minister Bui Thanh Son, the abbot, and the monks and Buddhist followers of Tran Quoc Pagoda for their hospitality. He expressed his hope that Indian and Vietnamese Buddhism would continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation for the peace and prosperity of both nations.
Vietnam and India established diplomatic relations on January 7, 1972. The two countries upgraded their relationship to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in September 2016. Currently, both sides are actively implementing the action plan for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the period 2021-2023.
Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Vietnam - India The relationship continues to develop positively. Political trust between the two countries is constantly being strengthened through the maintenance of high-level and other visits and contacts. In June 2022, Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son visited India, attended the Special ASEAN-India Foreign Ministers' Meeting and held talks with his Indian counterpart S. Jaishankar.
Cooperation in the defense and security sector between the two countries continues to be a cornerstone, effective, and increasingly strategically in-depth area, with cooperation in military technology, training, and officer education.
Economic and trade cooperation has recovered and developed well after the pandemic, with bilateral trade turnover exceeding US$15 billion in 2023. Investment cooperation is showing promising signs, with major Indian corporations showing interest in investing in Vietnam. India is currently one of Vietnam's top 10 trading partners.
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