New Delhi, May 6 — Vietnam President and General Secretary To Lam concluded a state visit to India that produced 18 outcomes: 13 memorandums of understanding and five joint announcements, the Ministry of External Affairs said. The two countries agreed to elevate their relationship to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and set new cooperative targets across trade, culture, technology and defence.
MoUs and agreements
– IREL (India) Ltd. and the Institute for Technology of Radioactive and Rare Elements (ITRRE), Vietnam: cooperation on rare earth elements and related technologies.
– India’s Ministry of Culture and Vietnam’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism: a Cultural Exchange Programme for 2026–2030 under the framework of the 1976 Cultural Agreement.
– Reserve Bank of India and State Bank of Vietnam: cooperation in payment systems and innovation in digital payments.
– Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation and Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee: friendship and cooperation to share urban management and economic development expertise.
– Indian Council for Cultural Relations and Da Nang University (University of Science and Education): establishment of an ICCR Chair in Indian Studies.
– Nalanda University, Rajgir, and Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics (HCMA), Hanoi: strengthened capacity-building and training cooperation.
– India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and Vietnam’s Ministry of Science and Technology: cooperation in digital technologies and information technology.
– NPCI International Payments Limited (NIPL) and the National Payment Corporation of Vietnam (NAPAS): cross-border QR code interoperability for payments.
– Office of the Comptroller and Auditor General of India and the State Audit Office of Vietnam: cooperation on public sector audit, renewing and updating a 2010 understanding.
– India’s Ministry of Tourism and Vietnam’s Ministry of Sports, Culture and Tourism: tourism cooperation.
– Indian Council for Cultural Relations and the University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USSH), VNU Ho Chi Minh City: establishment of an ICCR Chair of Indian Studies.
– Gyan Bharatam (Ministry of Culture) and USSH, VNUHCM: digitisation of Cham manuscripts, linking the National Mission for Manuscripts, the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts and USSH for documentation, conservation and online dissemination.
Announced outcomes and targets
– Bilateral relationship elevated to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
– A new bilateral trade target of USD 25 billion by 2030.
– Vietnam joined the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI).
– Agricultural trade measures announced, including export of Indian grapes to Vietnam and the entry of Vietnamese durian into the Indian market.
– Agreement to establish a Site Interpretation Centre at the My Son UNESCO World Heritage Site in central Vietnam.
Meetings and scope
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President To Lam held wide-ranging talks at Hyderabad House. MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said discussions covered defence and security; trade and investment; science and technology; development partnership; maritime cooperation; critical and rare earth minerals; space cooperation; renewable and nuclear energy; cultural and people-to-people links; and regional and global issues of mutual interest.
The package of agreements and announcements reflects an expanded bilateral agenda spanning strategic, economic, cultural and technological areas as India and Vietnam seek closer integration through the coming decade.
