Speech by General Secretary, President To Lam at Indian Council of World Affairs

Your Excellency Shri Chandrapuram Ponnusami, President of the Indian Council of World Affairs,

Distinguished delegates,

Friends,

Namaste!

It is my great pleasure to visit the Indian Council of World Affairs (ICWA) and to meet all of you—India's leading researchers and experts in international relations. The ICWA is a premier and highly prestigious strategic research institution with a history spanning over 80 years, playing a pioneering role in shaping India's foreign policy. This historic Sapru House has witnessed many momentous events in the foreign relations of India, as well as those of Asian nations, the world, and Viet Nam. It has been a convergence point for numerous leaders, statesmen, and diplomats from across the globe.

It was here, in 1947, that a conference of profound significance took place—the first Asian Relations Conference. This event laid the foundation for the birth of the Non-Aligned Movement, connecting India, Viet Nam, and nations sharing a common aspiration for independence, peace, cooperation, and equitable and prosperous development. President Ho Chi Minh's message of peace and solidarity sent to the Conference—"United, we shall be one of the strongest guardians of world peace and democracy"—was warmly welcomed by Indian and international friends. This represented one of the first historical threads connecting the newly independent nations of India and Viet Nam, marking one of the first multilateral diplomatic events attended by an independent Viet Nam.

In our exchange today, I would like to share with you my thoughts on Viet Nam-India relations in a new era: An enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership guided by the motto of shared vision, strategic convergence, and substantive cooperation.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

1. Looking back at thousands of years of our two nations' formation and development, history and culture have become the enduring bonds connecting India and Viet Nam.

Though not geographical neighbors, Viet Nam and India have been closely linked since ancient times. Through maritime trade routes, Indian religious values, beliefs, ideologies, and civilizations spread to and integrated with the cultural and spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. These connections are present in hundreds of relics across Viet Nam, most notably the Luy Lau Buddhist Center, the UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site of My Son Sanctuary, the Cham Towers, and the Ponagar Temple—all of which bear the hallmarks of Hinduism and Buddhism, alongside the virtuous philosophies of the Vietnamese people. This connection is also manifested in rich new forms, such as visits and participation in the Vesak celebrations in Viet Nam by Indian state leaders, including the 2019 visit by Vice President Venkaiah Naidu.

Generations of Vietnamese people have grown deeply familiar with the Ramayana Epic—India's great saga that celebrates and has profoundly helped shape the standards of courage, loyalty, and sacrifice. Originating in India, Yoga is becoming increasingly popular in Viet Nam, with over 4,000 Yoga clubs across the country and approximately 500,000 regular practitioners. Each year, tens of thousands of Vietnamese Buddhists and tourists undertake pilgrimages to Bodh Gaya in Bihar State.

Our shared journey of struggling for national independence and construction has fostered a deep sense of empathy, attachment, and solidarity between our peoples and generations of leaders. This began with the profound respect President Ho Chi Minh held for the Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi, and his close friendship with India's first Prime Minister, Jawaharlal Nehru, as they both strove for independence, peace, justice, and prosperous development. We shall never forget that Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru was the first foreign head of government to visit Viet Nam in 1954—just one week after the liberation of our capital, Ha Noi—a testament to the immense support of the People and Government of India for the cause of the Vietnamese people. Nor will we ever forget the slogan "Mera Nam, Tera Nam, Vietnam - Vietnam" (My name, your name, our name – Viet Nam) that once echoed through the streets of many Indian cities. This remains a profound and vivid testament to the solidarity of the Indian people, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with the Vietnamese people in our struggle for peace, independence, and national freedom. We also remain forever grateful to our Indian friends who stood by Viet Nam during the difficult years following our national reunification.

Viet Nam always treasures and bears in mind the immense, deep, and invaluable support that the people, political parties, and Government of India extended to us during our past struggles for independence and freedom, as well as the practical support and assistance provided for our reconstruction and national development efforts today.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

2. The development journeys of India and Viet Nam over the past 80 years share many similarities and significant achievements.

First and foremost, both nations emerged from colonial economies that were extremely difficult, even exhausted, with low levels of development, imbalanced structures, and heavy dependence on foreign powers. Driven by the aspiration for prosperity and the desire to bring well-being and happiness to our people, both countries have step by step built independent, self-reliant, and resilient economies.

Today, India has become the world's fastest-growing major economy, achieving a growth rate of 7.6% last year despite a challenging global context. Maintaining a record average annual growth of 6% over the past three decades, India has emerged as one of the most vital engines of global economic growth. The Indian economy has ascended to the fourth largest in the world in terms of scale and is making steady strides toward the third position. India has become a technological powerhouse, boasting one of the world's most dynamic digital, innovative, and artificial intelligence-driven economies, featuring the tech hub of Bengaluru, the biotechnology center of Hyderabad, and high-quality human resource training institutions like the Indian Institutes of Technology (IIT), whose influence is global. Furthermore, the space program of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) has established India as one of the leading nations in space technology.

As for Viet Nam, after 40 years of Doi Moi (Renovation) and deep integration with the region and the world, our economic scale has reached US$514 billion —a nearly 100-fold increase compared to the pre-reform era—becoming the 32nd largest economy in the world and the 4th in ASEAN. Viet Nam ranks 44th out of 139 nations in the Global Innovation Index, while our startup ecosystem ranks 55th globally. The poverty rate has plummeted from over 70% in the mid-1980s to just 2.95% in 2025, according to multidimensional poverty standards, lifting tens of millions of people out of poverty.

In terms of foreign policy, our two countries share perspectives of independence, self-reliance, and resilience, while championing peace, dialogue, and a proactive, balanced, and responsible approach to regional and global issues. I am deeply impressed by India's philosophy of "The World is One Family" (Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam), which upholds friendship, respect, solidarity, and the aspiration for peace and prosperity—the values that the Vietnamese people also consistently strive for. We highly value India's responsible contributions through cooperation frameworks and strategic connectivity initiatives, such as the Act East Policy, which strengthens ties with Southeast Asia and ASEAN, and the Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), which promotes an open, inclusive, and rules-based space. We also appreciate India's increasingly important role in multilateral mechanisms, particularly the United Nations, G20, BRICS, the Indian Ocean Rim Association (IORA), and the Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation (BIMSTEC), all of which contribute to fostering dialogue, enhancing connectivity, and addressing shared challenges.

Viet Nam has also successfully undertaken numerous important international responsibilities, such as ASEAN Chair, host of the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, non-permanent member of the UN Security Council, member of the UN Human Rights Council, Vice President of the United Nations General Assembly, member of the UN International Law Commission, member of the Board of Governors of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), and member of various executive bodies of UNESCO... Furthermore, we have deployed officers and soldiers to contribute to United Nations peacekeeping missions.

Both Viet Nam and India are heading toward new development goals to mark the centenary of our respective independence, seeking harmony between growth and social progress, in which science and technology play an indispensable role. India has defined the Viksit Bharat 2047 Vision, aiming to transform into a developed nation by balancing economic growth, social progress, environmental sustainability, governance efficiency, and the enhancement of scientific and technological capabilities.

Viet Nam has also set its own objectives: to become a developing country with modern industry and upper-middle income status by 2030, and a developed, high-income country by 2045. These are two centennial goals of extraordinary strategic significance, embodying the developmental aspirations of the Vietnamese people in this new era.

We are determined to vigorously innovate our growth model to achieve rapid and sustainable development, maintaining independence and self-reliance alongside deep and effective international integration. In particular, we view the development of science, technology, innovation, and digital transformation not merely as supporting tools, but as the primary drivers of development.

On this foundation of trust and close ties, our bilateral relations have been steadily shaped and strengthened. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1972, we upgraded our ties to a Strategic Partnership in 2007 and a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2016, which has been continuously expanded and deepened over the past years. Bilateral trade turnover has increased more than threefold in just a decade, reaching a record high of nearly US$16.5 billion in 2025. India currently has over 400 investment projects in Viet Nam with a total capital of over US$1 billion. Meanwhile, Viet Nam has the VinFast electric vehicle manufacturing project in India, with a total committed capital of up to US$2 billion over the first five years.

Defense and security cooperation continues to be a strategic pillar, supported by various credit packages and technical transfers. Collaboration in education and training, tourism, and people-to-people exchanges has also expanded significantly, with approximately 80 direct flights operating between our two countries each week.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

3. Viet Nam-India relations are entering a new context.

The world is undergoing rapid and profound transformations, unlike anything we have seen before. Competition between major power centers is intensifying. International law, the United Nations, and multilateral institutions are facing unprecedented challenges.

All nations, including Viet Nam and India, are confronted with the paradoxes of our time: the demand for cooperation is rising, yet trust is being eroded. Economic structures are more deeply interconnected, yet more vulnerable. Technology is making leaps of progress never seen before, while simultaneously widening the development gap between nations. These transformations pose significant challenges; but above all, they open up opportunities if we know how to seize them—and seize them in time. These opportunities will multiply if we connect our efforts.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

4. The new context and the requirements of the new development stage in each country demand that we should consolidate, innovate, and elevate Viet Nam-India relations to new heights.

The development journey of each nation and the history of our bilateral ties show that Viet Nam and India have become natural partners in matters of peace, security, and development. We share common perspectives and visions on many issues regarding nation-building, regional and global affairs, and international relations. These include: (i) Strategic autonomy and balance; (ii) Respect for international law, support for the United Nations and the multilateral system; (iii) Protecting and building peace, and diversifying partnerships; (iv) Upholding dialogue and seeking common ground to bridge differences; and (v) Supporting a fair, inclusive regional and international order.

At the same time, we converge on many commonalities, notably: (i) Promoting peace and stability to create favorable conditions for prosperous development; (ii) Increasing the intertwining of interests across various fields—from economy, trade, and defense-security to science and technology—enhancing the connectivity and resilience of our bilateral ties; (iii) Ensuring freedom and security of navigation and overflight, resolving disputes through peaceful means, and promoting an open, inclusive, and stable Asia-Pacific and Indian Ocean region; and (iv) Strengthening coordination within regional multilateral mechanisms.

The bonds of connection, shared vision, and strategic convergence serve as a solid foundation for Vietnam and India to bolster cooperation. This contributes effectively to each country's development journey in the new era, while simultaneously helping to shape a more stable and sustainable regional and international environment.

The bonds of connection, shared vision, and strategic convergence serve as a solid foundation for Viet Nam and India to bolster cooperation, contributing effectively to each nation's development journey in the new era, while helping to shape a more stable and sustainable regional and international environment.

Building on the robust foundation of Viet Nam-India relations built over more than 50 years, and to elevate our cooperation to a new stage and a new height—an enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership guided by the motto of shared vision, strategic convergence, and substantive cooperation, aimed at unlocking potential and opening new spaces and sectors—I would like to propose that we focus on the following key directions:

(i) First and foremost, we should further consolidate and deepen strategic trust. This is the prerequisite for maintaining stable relations and the bedrock for promoting effective cooperation and jointly addressing shared challenges. For over 50 years, the relationship between Viet Nam and India has been an extraordinary one, "as clear as a cloudless sky," as the late Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Van Dong once described it. It is extraordinary and pure because it is built upon historical and cultural connections, mutual trust, understanding, and respect, as well as policy consistency, all nurtured by generations of leaders and the people of both nations. It is extraordinary and pure because our two countries have no conflicts of interest; rather, our cooperation is characterized by high stability and resilience.

In this new phase, we need to: (1) Continue to strengthen comprehensive exchanges across all channels—between the States, Parliaments, political parties, and peoples of both countries, as well as across all levels, from central to local; (2) Expand cooperation in strategic fields. While defense and security cooperation is already strong and close, it needs to become even better and deeper. Existing coordination mechanisms must be further promoted to enhance the effectiveness of our actions and the alignment of our positions in multilateral forums, including ASEAN, the United Nations, and the Non-Aligned Movement, particularly as the regional and international landscape is undergoing highly complex shifts.

(ii) Secondly, we should expand the scope for connectivity, increase development linkages, and create more momentum for regional integration. The development of connectivity in infrastructure, logistics, digitalization, and value chains is a vital link in enhancing the ties between our two countries. For sectors with high complementarity—such as pharmaceuticals, information technology, high-tech agriculture, and clean energy—we need to promote specific cooperation projects, including manufacturing joint ventures, technology transfer, and market development, to jointly participate more deeply in regional supply chains.

We stand ready to cooperate with India in the pharmaceutical sector and welcome Indian pharmaceutical companies to invest in production in Viet Nam to serve the Southeast Asian market. We should also expand direct connection mechanisms between businesses and localities through cooperation forums and investment promotion programs; thereby transforming cooperation orientations into concrete projects tailored to each industry, each locality, and each value chain.

The Viet Nam-India relationship is a strategic axis connecting Southeast Asia and South Asia. Through our enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, the ASEAN-India framework, the Mekong-Ganga Cooperation, as well as regional connectivity initiatives, our two countries can contribute to consolidating an open, inclusive, and dynamic space for cooperation.

At the same time, new thinking, new tasks, and new areas of cooperation should be coupled with a new approach—one characterized by a spirit of decisiveness, where implementation progress and concrete results serve as the measurement of the effectiveness of cooperation.

iii) Elevate and accelerate cooperation in science, innovation, and strategic technologies, transforming it into a key pillar of the Viet Nam-India partnership. Knowledge, technology, and innovation have become the primary drivers of growth and new decisive factors in national synergy and competitiveness. This necessitates deeper and more diverse forms of cooperation in future-shaping sectors such as digital economy, data, semiconductors, and artificial intelligence.

We place special importance on cooperation with India in the fields of science and technology, particularly in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation. I believe we are fully capable of further promoting and exploring complementary areas of cooperation, advancing the strategic pillar of science, innovation, and technology not only at the policy-making level but also at the implementation level. This can be achieved by clearly identifying spearhead sectors and deployment models; establishing joint programs between research centers, universities, and enterprises; and facilitating the training and mobility of high-quality human resources between our two countries.

(iv) Fourthly, we should promote socio-cultural values and strengthen people-to-people exchanges. The enduring vitality of relations between nations lies not only in cooperation frameworks but also in the bonds between people and between societies. The year 2025 recorded nearly 1 million tourist arrivals between Viet Nam and India, reflecting the increasingly deep and broad connectivity between our two nations. While this figure represents a remarkable leap compared to five or six years ago, it remains modest given our population sizes and economic potential.

We need to continue expanding and deepening these connections through cooperation in education and training, culture, tourism, local-level partnerships, and people-to-people exchanges, especially among the younger generation. It is from lecture halls, laboratories, research projects, and young startups that mutual understanding and trust will be formed naturally and sustainably.

The understanding and empathy built over centuries are precious assets that must be cherished and preserved. They also serve as a source of inspiration for Viet Nam and India to jointly spread and enrich noble values for the region and the world. These values, when inherited and promoted by the younger generation, will provide a solid foundation for the relationship between our two countries as we journey toward the future.

v) Fifthly, let us join hands to create and consolidate a space of peace and stability. We both understand the profound value of peace. In today's context, we recognize more clearly than ever that peace is not merely the absence of war or conflict; it is the active creation and reinforcement of structural, institutional, and cultural conditions to promote sustainable peace, justice, and human prosperity. Peace is not a given; it is the result of sincere dialogue, responsible conduct among nations, and a steadfast respect for the fundamental principles of the UN Charter and international law. By upholding the value of dialogue, promoting the rule of law, resolving disputes through peaceful means, and placing the people's interests at the heart of development, our two countries not only protect our legitimate interests but also directly contribute to maintaining a regional order that is open, transparent, inclusive, and rules-based.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

The thousands of years of historical connection and more than 50 years of diplomatic relations have built an incredibly precious and solid foundation for Viet Nam-India ties—a relationship defined by historical depth and numerous similarities in our development journeys. To Viet Nam, India has always been a vital partner as well as a close and trusted friend.

Entering a new era with our Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership at a new height, and guided by the motto "shared vision, strategic convergence, and substantive cooperation," I am confident that with the decisive solutions of our Governments and the determination, solidarity, and innovative spirit of our businesses, the Viet Nam-India relationship will grow even stronger and more substantive. Our connectivity will become even more resilient, bringing practical benefits and success to the development of each nation, while contributing positively to peace, stability, cooperation, and prosperity in the region and the world.

I wish you all good health and success!

May the friendship between Viet Nam and India remain forever strong and flourishing!

Thank you very much./.