In what's being seen as a significant move to bolster bilateral ties amid border issues with China, Prime Minister Narendra Modi engaged in extensive discussions with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh on Thursday. Chinh's three-day visit to Delhi, which began on Tuesday, aims to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.
Vietnam, a key member of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), has ongoing territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea region. While China claims the entire South China sea region (around 3,500,000 square kilometres), Vietnam the Philippines, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan also stake claims to parts of the South China sea.
The two leaders met at Hyderabad House, where Modi extended a warm welcome to Chinh. According to External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, the talks focused on substantive ways to energize the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, reported news agency PTI.
India-Vietnam Trade And Tourism
Addressing the press after the discussions, PM Modi said: "In the last 10 years, India and Vietnam have taken the comprehensive strategic partnership route. Our bilateral trade has increased by over 85%." India-Vietnam trade is worth about $15 billion. On Wednesday, Vietnam PM Pham Minh Chinh said that this could increase to $20 billion soon.
PM Modi in his address on Thursday said connectivity had increased to over 50 flights between the two nations. "Tourism has increased and e-visa facilities have been made available to people," he said. Vietnam is on the list of 47 countries, travellers from where are offered e-visa facilities by India. Vietnam, on the other hand, grants e-visas to the citizens of all countries, including India. The e-visa has a 90-day stay permit and is valid for multiple entries. Travellers from only 13 nations are exempt from visa requirements. According to a study, 'Travel Trends 2024: Breaking Boundaries', by Mastercard's Economics Institute Indian tourism to Vietnam had increased by 248% in the five years preceding March 2024.
PM Modi Highlights India's Temple Connection In Vietnam
PM Modi also highlighted the Indian connection in Vietnam, saying that the restoration of temples in My Son have also completed. PM Modi was talking about the My Son Sanctuary where Hindu temples, dating as far back as the 4th century CE were found. The sanctuary is now a UNESCO Heritage site.
The UNESCO website on the the My Son Sanctuary reads: "During the 4th to 13th centuries there was a unique culture on the coast of contemporary Vietnam, owing its spiritual origins to the Hinduism of India. This is graphically illustrated by the remains of a series of impressive tower temples in a dramatic site that was the religious and political capital of the Champa Kingdom for most of its existence."
PM Modi said that India will contribute to the conservation efforts of the temples in Block F of the World Heritage Site. He also invited Vietnamese people to visit the Buddhist circuit and the Nalanda University.
India's 'Viksit Bharat' Vision
PM Modi said that because of India's vision for 'Viksit Bharat 2047' and Vietnam's 'Vision 2045' both nations have been able to walk the path of fast-paced development. "This is why we have formulated a new plan of action. We shall closely work further in the sectors of defence & security... We agree that to achieve the full potential of our bilateral trade the ASEAN-India Trade In Goods Agreement must be reviewed at the earliest," PM Modi said.
PM Modi further said that both India and Vietnam believe in development rather than expansion.
In recent years, the strategic relationship between India and Vietnam has experienced significant growth. A notable example is India's gifting of the missile corvette INS Kirpan to Vietnam last July, highlighting their expanding bilateral strategic and defense partnership. This move was particularly noteworthy as it marked the first time India had transferred a fully operational corvette to a friendly foreign nation.
India has existing oil exploration projects in Vietnamese waters in the same region. To protect their shared interests, India and Vietnam have been enhancing their maritime security cooperation in recent years.