To Lam meets Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New York

The meeting took place on the sidelines of the UN Summit of the Future and the high-level general debate of the 79th session of the UN General Assembly (UNGA 79).

To Lam expressed thanks to the Indian Government for providing 35 tons of commodities worth US$1 million for Viet Nam to overcome the devastating consequences of Typhoon Yagi.

He expressed his satisfaction at the strong development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two nations.

The Joint Statement on strengthening of the Viet Nam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership issued last August is of great significance, meeting the interests, demands and prospects of the two nations, noted To Lam.

He urged both sides to enhance close coordination and effectively realize high-level agreements and the action plan on the implementation of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during 2024-2028.

The top Vietnamese leader underlined the need to promote the bilateral ties towards an intensive, practical and effective manner across all sectors and uphold their advantages in potential areas such as economics, trade, investment, security-defense, culture, tourism, aviation and people-to-people links.

He expressed his hope that the annual bilateral trade value will soon reach US$20 billion and US$30 billion by 2030, doubling the figure recorded in 2023.

Viet Nam will actively work with other ASEAN Member States to deepen ASEAN-India strategic partnership, said To Lam, calling on India to continue support for the principled stance and centrality of ASEAN and for the bloc to build the ASEAN Community, and to work together to handle common challenges.

Both nations should support each other and bolster close coordination at international and regional forums, especially at the UN, ASEAN and ASEAN-led mechanisms; uphold principles to ensure security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation and peacefully address disputes on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS 1982), said To Lam.

For his part, Modi pledged to work with Vietnamese leaders to strengthen the bilateral ties more intensively and substantively, adding that India always wishes to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership with Viet Nam.

India will continue its Act East Policy and effectively bolster collaboration with ASEAN and Viet Nam, particularly in all spheres of digital connectivity, digital economy, sustainable infrastructure, renewable energy, and maritime economy, he added./.