Brian Jeffrey
President To Lam thanked India for its emergency assistance of 35 tons of supplies worth 1 million USD, aimed at supporting Vietnamese areas affected by Typhoon Yagi.
He noted that this generous aid signifies the enduring friendship and Comprehensive Strategic Partnership that exists between Vietnam and India.
Both leaders expressed their contentment with the swift growth of their bilateral ties. President To Lam highlighted the importance of the Joint Statement aimed at strengthening their relationship, made during Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s recent trip to India, which set forth key cooperation areas aligned with the mutual interests of both countries.
They agreed to closely work together to effectively implement the results from high-level visits and the Action Plan for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership from 2024 to 2028. They also discussed harnessing opportunities in key sectors such as trade, investment, defense, culture, tourism, aviation, and exchanges among people.
President To Lam is optimistic that both countries will soon achieve the goal of 20 billion USD in annual trade, with ambitions to surpass 30 billion USD by 2030, effectively doubling the trade figures from 2023.
In terms of regional collaboration, President To Lam reaffirmed Vietnam’s dedication to enhancing ASEAN-India relations, committing to actively strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between ASEAN and India.
He expressed hopes that India would continue to uphold ASEAN’s central role and assist in fortifying the ASEAN Community, particularly in tackling shared challenges.
Prime Minister Modi reiterated India’s intention to enhance the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Vietnam. He confirmed India’s ongoing commitment to its “Act East” strategy, aimed at fostering robust ties with ASEAN and Vietnam, focusing on digital connectivity, digital economy, sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and maritime security.
On that same day, Vietnam’s Defense Minister, General Phan Van Giang, held a meeting with Jean-Pierre Lacroix, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Peacekeeping Operations. Minister Giang commended the UN’s role in sustaining international law, promoting peace, preventing conflicts, and addressing global challenges.
As a UN member, Vietnam is committed to the UN Charter and its resolutions. In matters of defense and security, Vietnam has actively engaged in non-traditional security initiatives, including peacekeeping, disarmament, and the fight against transnational crime.
Over the past decade, Vietnam has contributed over 900 personnel, including military and police, to UN peacekeeping missions in South Sudan, the Central African Republic, and Abyei. Notably, Vietnam maintains one of the highest percentages of female participants in these missions, with over 14% female representation.
Minister Giang expressed Vietnam’s intention to broaden its contributions to peacekeeping initiatives, both in scope and magnitude. He underscored Vietnam’s commitment to deploying more personnel in UN-organized activities.
Under-Secretary-General Lacroix praised Vietnam’s progressively active and effective role in peacekeeping operations, highlighting the professionalism and competence demonstrated by Vietnamese personnel in their tasks.
He also noted that Vietnam’s contributions have significantly enhanced the effectiveness of the missions, stating the UN’s support for Vietnam’s efforts to bolster its peacekeeping capabilities.
