From Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

General Secretary and President To Lam held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on May 6. (Photo: Embassy of India in Vietnam)

The State visit of General Secretary of the Central Committee of the Communist Party and President To Lam, to India is a significant milestone in the India-Viet Nam relations.

In the 10^th year of the bilateral and highly successful Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2016-2026), leaders of the two countries have now decided to elevate this multifaceted relationship to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (ECSP).

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The India-Viet Nam journey endures over time. Though diplomatic relations between India and Viet Nam were established in 1972, our friendship and close relations is based on the millennia-old civilizational linkages which are manifested in our shared Buddhist and Cham heritage.

As nations with a history of struggle for independence from colonial rule that mutually inspired our national movements, the last 8 decades have been a remarkable journey of togetherness, showing sensitivity to each other’s concerns and supporting each other’s aspirations and national development visions.

A decade of mutual achievements

Over the past decade, especially, since 2016, dimensions of our relations have, both, expanded and deepened. Our bilateral relations have evolved into more robust and multifaceted synergized frameworks, which have been built on the bedrock of mutual trust, civilizational heritage and mutual respect as also solidarity.

Our cooperation has expanded across sectors with forward strides in all areas, particularly, political engagements, development partnership, defence & security cooperation, people-to-people relations and trade & commerce.

Our bilateral trade has more than doubled since 2016; from USD 8 billion in 2015-16 to USD 16 billion in 2024-25. These are impressive developments and reflect the synergy between the two sides. However, our bilateral trade is still below 2% of our respective global trade; counter-intuitive to the fact that we are two of the fastest growing economies.

The guidance by leaders of the two countries to strive towards a new trade goal of USD 25 billion by 2030, therefore, sits well with the expectations of both sides to realize our potential.

A future-oriented and forward-looking era

Our leaders have also envisioned that the India-Viet Nam partnership in the new era will be future-oriented and forward-looking. And nothing speaks about the future more than harnessing technologies. So, what’s in store for the India-Viet Nam partnership when it comes to harnessing technologies?

While continuing to strengthen the traditional pillars of our partnership in an upward trajectory, focus will be on initiating cooperation in new domains, particularly, in innovation, critical and emerging technologies, renewable energy, health care, space technology, digital public infrastructure, fintech and pharmaceuticals, among others. Technology has become a key driver of growth, development and value chain in today’s world.

Given that India and Viet Nam, both, are rapidly growing economies with aspirational societies, our demand sets are aligned. There are many similarities in our technology push and on incorporating technology trends into our respective national economic plans. We will work with Viet Nam in realizing the potential in these critical and novel areas. We already have ongoing dialogue mechanisms on IT, S&T, and other areas which need to be energized and refocused in line with demands of the current requirements.

Further, as both sides move towards net-zero emissions, our national energy transition successes and experiences can benefit each other from our respective models and policies. Viet Nam’s entry into the International Solar Alliance (ISA), earlier this year, was a step in this direction.

In our framework, harnessing technologies is not restricted only to the definition in its raw sense. Both sides also make efforts to leverage this to strengthen the traditional bonds between the peoples of two countries. We know that Buddhism is the celestial bridge which embraces the two societies warmly.

The spiritual welcome accorded during the Exposition of Holy Relics of Lord Buddha in Viet Nam in 2025 is a testimony to this everlasting bond. What we have undertaken together is leveraging technology to restore and conserve our heritage as well. The extensive and technically niche works being carried out by the Archaeological Survey of India at the UNESCO World Heritage Site in My Son is a case in point.

With this same approach, both sides also understand that this framework stands to evolve further with increasing people-to-people ties. In the last decade, therefore, both sides have worked closely to increase people-to-people connectivity manifold. While at the Government-to-Government levels, we have relaxed visa regimes, at commercial levels, we have more than 90 direct flights operating per week between India and Viet Nam.

Direct air connectivity has played a pivotal and catalytic role as a force multiplier to promote trade, tourism and business ties. Tourism has been the largest beneficiary with international travellers between the two countries, reaching to 900,000. In addition, we are also exploring the possibility of direct shipping connections between the two countries. Further, supply chain resilience and energy security are priority areas for collaboration, as well.

On May 7 in Mumbai, General Secretary and President To Lam, together with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, co-chaired the Vietnam-India Forum organized by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and Industry (VCCI) in coordination with the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII). (Photo: VNA)

Significance of the State visit

This State Visit to India has taken place at a time when the world is marked by uncertainty and rapid change.

The global order is undergoing a period of profound transition, shaped by shifting power balances, ongoing conflicts and economic fragmentation. India has set its journey towards deeper engagement with like-minded countries with similar views and convergences.

We have sought to maximise freedom of choice and maintain autonomy in decision making. It is in this backdrop that the State Visit of the General Secretary and President To Lam to India assumes importance.

There could not have been a more appropriate time for our leaders to meet and exchange views as we both share mutual interests in promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the region.

Takeaways

The visit of General Secretary and President H. E. To Lam has added an important chapter and momentum to our relations, now guided by the Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. As India’s Ambassador, following are some of my key takeaways from this landmark visit:

(i) Vietnam is a key partner in our "Act East" policy and Viet Nam joining the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) underlines our convergence on the multilateral platform. In addition, strengthening the voice and role of the Global South in global governance underscores the growing strategic convergence to promote international order based on international law.

(ii) Opening doors for cooperation in the domain of innovation and digital payment systems. Enabling cross border payment connectivity such as QR code-based payments further enhancing trade, tourism and commerce.

(iii) Continuing to work together towards conservation of our traditional cultural heritage. The restoration of the Nhan Tower and establishment of a Site Interpretation Centre at the UNESCO World Heritage site at My Son reflects our common heritage. The digitisation of Cham Manuscripts of Viet Nam is also an effort in this direction.

(iv) Collaboration and partnership in inter alia digital public infrastructure, 6G, Artificial Intelligence, space, nuclear technology and critical minerals supply chain resilience. We will work together in domains of critical and emerging technologies. The address by General Secretary and President To Lam at the India-Viet Nam Innovation Forum, co-hosted by India’s Ministry of Electronics and IT (MeitY) and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science & Technology, is a testimony to our common resolve to forge partnerships in these new areas.

(v) The visit to India’s financial and commercial capital by General Secretary and President To Lam reflects that trade & commerce is a key pillar of our partnership. The Business Forum attended by over 200 companies exhibits the mutual interest and desire to enhance mutually balanced trade. We will encourage investments and facilitate conducive environment for this.

(vi) Continuing our deep cultural bonds, we will celebrate India Cultural Week in Vietnam and Vietnam Cultural Week in India in 2027 as we commemorate 55 years of establishment of diplomatic ties.

(vii) Strengthen the existing academic linkages between the two sides. Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) Chairs in Indian Studies will be established in the Da Nang University and the University of Social Science and Humanities.

(viii) Bring together Nalanda University and the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics to promote leadership exchange and excellence in academics.

(ix) Institutionalise relationship between the two commercial capitals, Mumbai and Ho Chi Minh City.

(x) Opening market access for agricultural products in respective markets.

(xi) Healthcare is a domain of immense value and importance to both the countries. We will work together towards resilient supply of quality and affordable pharmaceutical products to Vietnam to ensure health security.

(xii) Consistent support for ASEAN Unity and ASEAN Centrality in the evolving regional architecture for regional peace, stability and prosperity. India is one of those countries which has a country-specific ASEAN Summit mechanism viz. India-ASEAN Summit. As unanimously agreed by all ASEAN members, 2026 has been designated as “Year of ASEAN-India Maritime Cooperation”.

(xiii) Apart from being two rapidly growing economies, India and Vietnam also cherish youthful demographics and aspirational societies. Our respective development visions – Developed India @ 2047 (Viksit Bharat @2047) and Viet Nam 2045 – have complementarities.

Elevation of the India-Vietnam bilateral relationship to Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, by the two leaders, has underscored that both sides reaffirm to translate the enormous goodwill into tangible outcomes.

I would urge the readers to read the Joint Statement released during the State Visit of General Secretary and President H. E. To Lam on ‘Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership’ - https://www.mea.gov.in/bilateral-documents.htm?dtl/41108/Joint_Statement_on_Enhanced_Comprehensive_Strategic_Partnership_between_the_Republic_of_India_and_the_Socialist_Republic_of_Vietnam_May_06_2026.

This is just the beginning of our journey. The sky is not the limit for India and Vietnam!

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