General Secretary and President To Lam receives Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

The joint statement issued by Vietnam and India on strengthening their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership is a significant development, in line with the interests, needs, and aspirations of both sides.

General Secretary and President To Lam and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. (Source: PTI)

According to the VNA special correspondent, on the occasion of attending the Future Summit and the High-Level General Debate of the United Nations General Assembly in New York City, at noon on September 23rd local time, General Secretary and President To Lam He met with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

General Secretary and President To Lam thanked the Indian Government for providing emergency aid of 35 tons of goods worth 1 million USD to support areas affected by Typhoon Yagi (Typhoon No. 3) in overcoming the consequences of the natural disaster, demonstrating the good feelings and traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

General Secretary and President To Lam sent his regards to President Droupadi Murmu, congratulated Mr. Narendra Modi on his re-election as Prime Minister of India for the third consecutive time, and also congratulated India on its recent achievements in socio-economic development, science and technology, and foreign relations.

General Secretary and President To Lam expressed satisfaction with the increasingly strong development of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries.

The issuance of a Joint Statement on Strengthening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries during the visit of Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh to India, with many new and important contents, is a significant development that aligns with the interests, needs, and aspirations of both sides.

The General Secretary and President proposed that the two sides continue to coordinate closely and effectively implement the results of the visits, high-level agreements, and the Action Program for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for the period 2024-2028, further deepening the relationship in a substantive and effective manner across all fields, leveraging the potential and strengths of each country, especially in the areas of economy, trade, investment, security and defense, culture, tourism, aviation, and people-to-people exchanges...; expressing confidence that the two countries will soon achieve the goal of increasing bilateral trade to US$20 billion per year and to over US$30 billion by 2030, double the figure from 2023.

Regarding regional cooperation, General Secretary and President To Lam affirmed that Vietnam will actively work with ASEAN countries to further deepen the ASEAN-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; he hoped that India would continue to support ASEAN's principled stance and central role, assist ASEAN in building the Community, and cooperate in responding to common challenges; and continue to support each other and cooperate closely in regional and international forums, especially the United Nations, ASEAN, and ASEAN-led mechanisms, upholding the principles of ensuring security, safety, and freedom of navigation and overflight, and peacefully resolving disputes on the basis of international law, including UNCLOS 1982.

Indian Prime Minister Modi congratulated the General Secretary and President of Vietnam on being elected to the highest leadership positions in Vietnam; expressed confidence that General Secretary and President To Lam, together with other Vietnamese leaders, will lead the country to further development and deepen the Vietnam-India relationship in a more substantive way; and affirmed that India always desires to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership with Vietnam.

Prime Minister Modi stated that India will continue to vigorously pursue its "Act East" policy, fostering closer and more effective relations with ASEAN and Vietnam, especially in areas of mutual interest or strength such as digital connectivity, digital economy, sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and maritime security.

On this occasion, General Secretary and President To Lam reiterated his invitation to Indian President Droupadi Murmu to visit Vietnam in the near future. Prime Minister Modi respectfully invited General Secretary and President To Lam to visit India soon.

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