Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung, in a joint statement during the latter's two-day state visit, on Tuesday said that strong relations between India and Vietnam are essential for peace and stability to both nations and the wider South Asia region.
In the statement, Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Dung agreed that a strong India-Vietnam partnership would lead to peace, prosperity and stability for people of both countries and in the wider region. Prime Minister Modi reaffirmed that Vietnam was an important pillar of India's Look East Policy. Prime Minister Dung welcomed a greater role for India in the regional and international arena.
Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Dung further noted that strategic partnership between both countries was based on traditional friendship, mutual understanding, strong trust, support and convergence of views on various regional and international issues. The two leaders expressed happiness on the success of the recent state visit of President Pranab Mukherjee to Vietnam in September 2014. They also welcomed the successful visit of External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Hanoi in August 2014. The Prime Ministers called for more intensive exchanges at all levels under the established dialogue mechanisms and urged effective implementation of agreements concluded between both countries.
Prime Minister Modi and Prime Minister Dung also welcomed the developments in recent years which have led to a continuous strengthening of the strategic partnership between India and Vietnam. The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment for comprehensive development of the Strategic Partnership between the two countries.
Prime Minister Dung is on a two-day state visit to India. During his visit, the leader witnessed the signing of seven agreements and memorandums of understanding (MoUs) between the two nations.
On Tuesday evening, he will attend a banquet hosted by Prime Minister Modi before departing.