Vietnamese delegation pays visit to President Ram Nath Kovind

Ahead of the 50th anniversary milestone of Indo-Vietnamese relations, a delegation of Vietnamese parliamentary officials has met Indian President Ram Nath Kovind at his official residence in the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on Monday. Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue of Vietnam's National Assembly leads the delegation, which is meeting President Kovind following the fifth anniversary of the two nations' comprehensive strategic partnership.

"Our people cherish the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi and President Ho Chi Minh. Today, our bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership covers a wide range of areas – from political engagement to trade and investment ties, energy cooperation, development partnership, defence and security cooperation and people-to-people relations," said a statement by Rashtrapati Bhavan.

In an interview to Economic Times, Vuong Dinh Hue Said that Vietnam was eager to resume regular contact with India following a 'prolonged period of hardship' caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

"Vietnam always attaches great importance to enhancing the traditional friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with India. We are very delighted to see that India also gives priority to the advancement of relations with Vietnam under its "Act East Policy," Dinh Hue said.

The statement also said that President Kovind had appreciated the defense ties between India and Vietnam which he viewed as key to the security and stability of the region. In addition to this, India and Vietnam have been "working with ASEAN to contribute to free, open, peaceful, prosperous, inclusive and rules-based Indo-Pacific region governed by international law", the statement said.

In his interview, Dinh Hue mentioned that Vietnam would be relying on India in order to generate a Fourth Industrial Revolution through Indian investments in human resources for digital transformation and development of new technologies.

Dinh Hue was also present at the the 5th anniversary celebrations of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership last week where External Affairs Minister Jaishankar stated that both countries have a significant agenda in the works, whether it is in the areas of trade, connectivity, or culture.