External Affairs Minister (EAM) Dr. S. Jaishankar paid an official visit to Vietnam from 15-18 October 2023 at the invitation of H.E. Mr. Bui Thanh Son, Foreign Minister of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam. EAM called on H.E. Mr. Pham Minh Chinh, Prime Minister of Vietnam and held discussions with H.E. Mr. Le Hoai Trung, Chairman of the External Relations Commission of Communist Party of Vietnam.
The two Ministers co-chaired the 18th India-Vietnam Joint Commission Meeting on economic, trade, scientific and technological cooperation and reviewed progress on India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership including bilateral cooperation in various fields. The two Ministers signed agreed minutes of the Joint Commission meeting outlining ways to enhance trade, business exchanges, economic cooperation in the energy, financial, mineral, information technology, healthcare, agriculture, connectivity, defence and security, advanced technologies, education and training, development cooperation, justice, tourism, think-tank, cultural and people-level exchanges. They also exchanged views on regional and international issues of mutual interest.
India and Vietnam enjoy longstanding close ties, mutual trust and appreciation for each other. The two sides recognized that as two fast growing economies, there are emerging opportunities to intensify trade, business and economic exchanges. Defence and security cooperation, a key pillar of our engagement will be deepened. Close bonds of affinity and culture among the people visible in Buddhist connections, popularity of yoga, academic ties, heritage monuments, cultural exchanges and province level engagements will also be enhanced.
During the visit, the two Ministers visited the historical Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi where a Bodhi tree presented by the then President of India to the Vietnamese President was planted 64 years back, symbolising the shared heritage of Buddhism between the two countries. EAM also visited Phat Tich Pagoda dating back one thousand years which was one of the centres for Buddhist exchanges with India and other countries. EAM inaugrated a bust of Gurudev Rabindranath Tagore in Bac Ninh city.
In Ho Chi Minh City, EAM met Politburo Member and Secretary of the Party Committee of Ho Chi Minh City, H.E. Nguyen Van Nen. They appreciated the dynamism of business and cultural connections with the city as well as opportunities for expanding cooperation with India. EAM inaugurated a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in the Ho Chi Minh City in Tao Dan Park.
He also visited the Indian sail training ship INS Sudarshini, which was on a port call, at the Saigon Port and interacted with the young crew and Vietnamese military personnel and senior officials. EAM also interacted with the Indian diaspora in Ho Chi Minh City at an event organised by the Consulate General of India and appreciated their contribution in furthering India – Vietnam relations.