Photo Credits: ANI
India and Vietnam have taken a major step in strengthening their strategic partnership, with a new action plan unveiled on Thursday. The announcement came after a high-level meeting between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
During their discussions, Modi emphasized Vietnam’s crucial role in India’s “Act East” policy and its alignment with India’s vision for a free, open, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. “Vietnam is a key partner in our Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision. We’re committed to supporting development rather than expansionism,” Modi stated.
The talks covered a broad range of cooperation, leading to the creation of a roadmap for future collaboration. Modi highlighted that both countries are advancing their development goals in line with India’s “Viksit Bharat 2047” vision and Vietnam’s “2045” vision. “Our discussions today have paved the way for new areas of cooperation and strengthened our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership,” Modi said.
The new action plan includes enhanced cooperation in defense and security sectors. Modi noted that both nations are committed to a rules-based Indo-Pacific, reflecting shared values on international stability.
Vietnam’s Prime Minister Chinh described the partnership as entering a “new era” and extended an invitation to Modi to visit Vietnam. Chinh also highlighted key agreements made during the visit, including Vietnam’s participation in India’s Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and the establishment of a deputy foreign ministerial dialogue on economic diplomacy.
Both leaders stressed the importance of peace and stability in the South China Sea, agreeing to work together to ensure freedom of navigation and the peaceful resolution of disputes based on international law, particularly the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982).
Chinh’s visit to Delhi marks the first by a Vietnamese prime minister in a decade and follows the upgrade of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016.
