NEW DELHI, May 6 : President Droupadi Murmu on Wednesday said Vietnam is an important part of India’s ‘Act East’ policy and that New Delhi is keen to further expand trade with it in a mutually beneficial manner.
Murmu also said defence and security are important pillars of the India-Vietnam bilateral relations.
She underlined India’s commitment to working together with Vietnam to address shared challenges and promote regional peace and stability.
Welcoming President of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam To Lam at the Rashtrapati Bhavan here on his first State visit to India, Murmu said that both countries share a deep friendship rooted in historical, civilisational, and cultural ties. She also hosted a banquet in his honour.
The president said that over the past decade, bilateral trade between the two countries has grown significantly, and India is keen to further expand it in a balanced and mutually beneficial manner.
“Within the framework of our comprehensive strategic partnership with ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), our relations with Vietnam are an important part of our ‘Act East’ policy and Indo-Pacific vision,” Murmu said, and appreciated Vietnam’s participation in the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative.
The President said that in recent years, India-Vietnam bilateral relations have expanded across high-level exchanges, defence and security cooperation, development partnership, and sectors such as trade, health, science and technology, and tourism.
She was happy to note that during this visit, agreements and announcements had been made in important areas such as rare earth minerals, digital and financial technology, culture, and education, according to a statement issued by the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
The two leaders agreed that close cooperation between India and Vietnam can bring immense benefits to the people of both countries, it said.
Murmu expressed confidence that under the leadership of President To Lam, the India–Vietnam relations will grow even stronger.
India and Vietnam on Wednesday elevated their ties to an enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership and set a USD 25 billion annual trade target by 2030.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Vietnamese president held talks earlier in the day, focusing on expanding bilateral ties in areas of trade, defence, and critical minerals in the face of increasing geopolitical upheavals. (PTI)
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