Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng and a high-ranking Vietnamese delegation departed Hà Nội for Cebu, the Philippines on Thursday morning to attend the 48th ASEAN Summit from May 7–8 at the invitation of Philippine President Ferdinand Romualdez Marcos Jr, Chair of ASEAN 2026.
Việt Nam always remembers the valuable support and assistance provided by the Indian people during Việt Nam’s struggle for independence in the past as well as in the country’s current development and nation-building efforts, said Việt Nam's top leader Tô Lâm.
Party General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm reaffirmed Việt Nam’s consistent policy of attaching high priority to its relationship with India. Việt Nam supports India playing a greater role in regional and international multilateral forums and supports India’s "Act East" policy and closer connectivity with ASEAN countries.
General Secretary and President Tô Lâm emphasised that the development paths of both nations, as well as their bilateral ties, demonstrate that Việt Nam and India have become natural partners in matters of peace, security and development. The two countries share perspectives and visions on numerous issues relating to national development, as well as regional and global affairs, with many converging interests.
The Vietnamese leader noted that both sides highly valued more than 50 years of bilateral relations and a decade of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, reaffirming that both countries attach high priority to further strengthening ties.
The two countries' top leaders have agreed to elevate the bilateral relations to Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the spirit of ‘shared vision, strategic convergence, substantive cooperation’, further translating the enormous goodwill into tangible outcomes.
A bilateral QR code-based retail payment connectivity agreement has been reached between Việt Nam's National Payment Corporation and India’s NPCI International Payments Limited.
Party General Secretary and President Tô Lâm and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi have agreed to elevate bilateral ties to an 'Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership'.
Permanent member of Party Central Committee's Secretariat Trần Cẩm Tú said Viettel should expand its development space and deepen international integration by boosting overseas investment and improving performance in international markets.
Over more than 70 years of building, fighting and development, the Việt Nam People’s Navy has continuously strengthened its combat capabilities, advanced towards modernisation and firmly safeguarded the nation’s sovereignty over its seas and islands.
As General Secretary and President Lâm stepped onto the honour podium beneath the national flags of Việt Nam and India, the two national anthems were performed by the military band.
Indian press coverage highlighted the visit’s importance, noting that it comes at a symbolic moment in bilateral ties.
At its third session, the 16th legislature will review a wide range of Government reports, including supplementary assessments of socio-economic and State budget performance in 2026 and results in early 2027, thrift practice and wastefulness prevention, gender equality, anti-corruption, crime prevention, law enforcement, detention management, environmental protection and drug prevention.
He highlighted the potential of Vietnamese intellectuals, students and Buddhist monks and nuns studying at Buddhist institutions in India, saying they form a valuable resource with access to advanced knowledge and areas of expertise in which India has particular strengths.
The Indian official noted that “instability” and “uncertainty” have become defining features of the current global landscape.
On the sidelines of the summit in the Philippines, Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng will hold bilateral meetings with other ASEAN leaders to reinforce friendship, enhance political trust, and promote substantive and fruitful cooperation.
This is the first visit to India by General Secretary and State President Tô Lâm in his new capacity, and takes place at a time when the two countries are preparing to celebrate the 10th anniversary of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in 2026.
During the meeting with voters in Lào Cai, Deputy Prime Minister Phạm Thị Thanh Trà discussed administrative reforms, socio-economic management, as well as local government staffing and wage reforms.
