What was the significance of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s state visit to India?
At the invitation of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and a high-level Vietnamese delegation paid a state visit to India. This was the first visit by a Vietnamese Prime Minister to India since the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries in 2016.
“The Prime Minister’s visit has served as a strong catalyst, affirming the strong determination of the leaders of both countries to take the bilateral relationship to a new stage, with enhanced strength, practicality, effectiveness, and deeper trust, as well as broadened opportunities.”
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh was one of the first foreign leaders that Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited for a state visit to India after his re-election for a third consecutive term. The two countries are approaching important milestones: the 10th anniversary of the establishment of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2026 and the 55th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2027. This visit holds great significance, creating a new momentum and opening a new chapter of substantive and broader developments, with more opportunities in the Vietnam-India relationship.
Within just two days, the Prime Minister had a dense, rich, and diverse schedule, with approximately 25 activities, including meetings and interactions with Indian leaders, major Indian corporations, and speeches at the Vietnam-India Business Forum and the Indian Council of World Affairs.
The Prime Minister’s meetings and interactions with Indian leaders affirmed the close friendship and traditional bond between the two countries, as well as the importance and support that each country attaches to the other within their respective foreign policies. The Indian leaders expressed their deep condolences on the passing of General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong, an excellent leader of the Vietnamese people and a close friend of India.
During the visit, the leaders of both countries affirmed the message of strengthening the Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in traditional areas such as defense and security, trade and investment, culture, and education, while expanding cooperation in new areas such as green economy, digital economy, knowledge economy, increasing two-way trade and investment, and enhancing cooperation in science and technology. The visit also affirmed that Vietnam and India always support each other and are ready to cooperate in building peace, stability, cooperation, and development in the Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean regions.
It can be said that the Prime Minister’s visit has served as a strong catalyst, affirming the strong determination of the leaders of both countries to take the bilateral relationship to a new stage, with enhanced strength, practicality, effectiveness, and deeper trust, as well as broadened opportunities.
What were the outstanding outcomes of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s state visit to India?
The visit was a great success, achieving its set goals with concrete and practical results that met the interests and expectations of both sides. The two sides issued a Joint Statement on enhancing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and signed nine documents in the fields of diplomacy, defense, finance, health, culture, tourism, and human resource training, including the Action Program for the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during the 2024–2028 period.
During the exchange, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, along with Indian leaders, agreed to enhance cooperation in the spirit of “Five Mores,” specifically:
First, enhancing political-strategic trust. The leaders affirmed the importance of further promoting exchanges and interactions at the Party, State, Government, and local levels, continuing to implement the “Distinguished Guest” Program between the two sides, and improving the effectiveness of existing cooperation mechanisms. Vietnam’s announcement of its participation in the Coalition for Disaster Resilient Infrastructure (CDRI) and its commitment to completing procedures to join the International Solar Alliance (ISA), two important global initiatives of India, have contributed to consolidating mutual trust.
Second, deepening defense and security cooperation by effectively implementing the Joint Vision Statement on Vietnam-India Defense Partnership towards 2030, expanding cooperation in maritime security, cybersecurity, and counter-terrorism. The signing of a $500 million defense credit package was a breakthrough during the visit.
Third, making economic, trade, and investment cooperation more substantive, effective, and breakthrough. The two sides aim to double two-way trade to $20 billion and double two-way investment by 2030. Vietnam has requested India to address trade barriers and promote Vietnamese products with strengths in the large and potential Indian market, such as electronics, textiles, and agricultural products. Vietnam also aims to attract major Indian corporations to invest in infrastructure, pharmaceuticals, and energy.
On this occasion, businesses from both countries signed six large contracts in aviation, airports, and logistics. Vietjet Air announced a direct flight route from Danang to Ahmedabad (India), aiming to increase the number of direct flights between the two countries, currently at 54 flights per week.
Fourth, expanding cooperation in science, technology, and innovation. Accordingly, the two sides agreed to promote cooperation in research and development (R&D) and innovation in core technologies, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, nuclear energy, rare earths, and expanded cooperation in petrochemicals and new energy fields. They also aim to establish joint ventures in information technology products and cooperate in training information technology engineers to meet the industry’s development.
Fifth, strengthening cultural, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges for closer connections. The two sides agreed to soon sign an agreement on tourism cooperation, striving to double the number of tourists compared to the current figure of about 400,000 arrivals per year. They also aim to continue cooperating in the restoration and preservation of the Cham Towers in My Son, Quang Nam, and diversifying people-to-people exchange activities.
With the above results, I believe that the Vietnam-India relationship has truly entered a new phase. Based on the outcomes of the visit, ministries, sectors, localities, businesses, and people have more opportunities to strengthen cooperation with India.
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