Hanoi (VNA) - Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Sandeep Arya highlighted India’s key socio-economic achievements since independence and seven decades of robust ties with Vietnam on the occasion of India’s 79th Independence Day on August 15.
In his article, Arya affirmed India’s determination to elevate the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to a new height, in line with India’s “Developed India @ 2047” vision and Vietnam’s 2045 development goals.
Congratulating Vietnam on the 50th anniversary of national reunification and the upcoming 80th anniversary of August Revolution (August 19) and National Day (September 2), he praised Vietnam’s impressive growth and its development path.
Arya wished that India’s 70-year-old partnership with Vietnam will further grow, supporting each country’s strategic ambitions.
People-to-people ties remain a cornerstone, Arya stressed. This year, sacred Buddha relics from India drew more than 15% of Vietnam’s population in a single month. The 10th International Day of Yoga 2025, themed “Yoga for One Earth, One Health”, was celebrated across 43 locations nationwide during June and July. Indian film festivals reached 31 venues across Vietnam.
Cultural and educational exchanges are thriving, including more than 200 scholarships for Vietnamese students in India, the second phase of the My Son UNESCO heritage restoration, and record two-way tourism with over 500,000 Indians and 54,000 Vietnamese travelling between the two countries in 2024. Direct flights now link seven Indian cities with three in Vietnam. Last month, Bollywood’s “Love in Vietnam” premiered in Da Nang, accompanied by growing exchanges among art troupes.
Trade and investment are also climbing, with annual trade surpassing 15 billion USD. Indian firms are stepping up their footprint in Vietnam, while new projects keep emerging. Ten days ago, Vietnamese automaker VinFast opened its first overseas electric-vehicle assembly plant in India. The ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement, signed in 2009, is underway to create a more streamlined trade mechanism.
National defence-security ties form another pillar of the partnership. Military training, ship visits, policy dialogues, and joint projects are fortifying ties. The annual security dialogue in December last year identified new areas for collaboration between relevant agencies.
The 2024 - 2028 action plan for the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, signed during Vietnamese Prime Minister’s state visit to India in 2024, is steering bilateral cooperation. In September 2024, Indian PM Narendra Modi and Vietnamese Party General Secretary To Lam agreed to broaden the partnership.
The 13th political consultation and 10th strategic dialogue at the deputy foreign ministerial level in June reviewed the progress. Bilateral exchanges involving governments, parliaments, political parties, localities, businesses, friendship societies, youth, universities, scholars and others keep enriching ties between the two countries. Both countries are exploring new ways for collaboration, with technology and digital applications now a priority.
Coordination at international forums and on global and regional issues is another key dimension. Last month, India successfully pushed for the Yen Tu Monuments and Landscape Complex to be added to UNESCO’s World Heritage list. The two nations also shared stances on various global matters, particularly those concerning the Global South.
With these achievements, Arya expressed confidence that the India - Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will reach new levels in the coming years, fueled by mutual focus and resolve./.
