Your Excellency, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh,

Delegates from both countries,

Our friends from the media,

Namaskar!

Xin chào!

I warmly welcome Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and his delegation to India.

First of all, on behalf of all the Indians, I express my deepest condolences on the demise of General Secretary, Nguyen Phu Trong.

He was a good friend of India. Under his leadership too, India and Vietnam relations got a strategic direction.

Friends,

Over the past decade, our dimensions of our relations have both expanded and deepened.

Over the last 10 years, we have transformed our relationship into a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

Our bilateral trade has increased by more than 85 percent.

Mutual cooperation has expanded in the sectors of Energy, Technology and Development Partnership.

Mutual cooperation in Defence and Security sectors has gained new momentum.

In the last decade, connectivity has increased many folds. Today we have more than 50 direct flights.

Along with this, Tourism is continuously increasing, and people have also been given the facility of e-visa.

The work of restoration of ancient temples has been successfully completed in ‘My Son’.

Friends,

Looking at the achievements of the last decade, in our discussion today we comprehensively discussed all areas of mutual cooperation.

And took several steps towards planning the future.

We believe that due to ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ and ‘Vision 2045’ of Vietnam, development has gained momentum in both the countries.

This is opening up many new areas of mutual cooperation.

And therefore, to further strengthen our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, today we have adopted a new Plan of Action.

New steps have been taken for cooperation in the field of Defence and Security.

The Army Software Park built at 'Nha Trang' was inaugurated today.

The agreement on a $300 million credit line will strengthen Vietnam's maritime security.

We have also decided to emphasize cooperation on the issues of terrorism and cyber security.

We agree that in order to realize the potential of mutual trade, the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement should be concluded as soon as possible.

An agreement has been reached between our central banks for Digital payment connectivity.

We have decided that the focus will be on the areas of Green Economy and new emerging technology.

Capabilities of both the nations in Energy and Port development sector will be harnessed for mutual benefit.

Work will also be done to connect the private sector, small and medium enterprises and start-ups of both the countries

Friends,

Agriculture and Fisheries are important parts of the economy of both countries.

These sectors are directly related to people's livelihood and food security.

We have decided that germplasm exchange and joint research will be promoted in these areas.

To conserve our shared cultural heritage, India will cooperate in the conservation of the temples of "Block F” of the World Heritage Site "My Son”.

As we all know, Buddhism is our common heritage, which has connected the people of both the countries on a spiritual level.

We invite people of Vietnam to the Buddhist circuit in India.

And wish that the youth of Vietnam should also take advantage of the Nalanda University.

Friends,

In our Act East policy and our Indo-Pacific vision, Vietnam is an important partner.

We share unison in our views regarding the Indo-Pacific region.

We support evolution, not expansionism.

We will continue our cooperation for a free, open, rules-based and prosperous Indo-Pacific.

We welcome Vietnam's decision to join the CDRI.

Friends,

Once again, I welcome Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.

Your visit is adding a new and golden chapter to our relations.

Thank you very much.

DISCLAIMER - This is the approximate translation of Prime Minister's remarks. Original remarks were delivered in Hindi.

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DS/ST/AK