Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng has held phone talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday. — VNA/VNS Photo Trí Dũng

HÀ NỘI — General Secretary of the Communist Party of Việt Nam Nguyễn Phú Trọng on Friday held a phone conversation with Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi.

The Indian leader highly valued the meaning of the high-level conversation with the Vietnamese Party chief, and congratulated Việt Nam on its success in national development and its elevated international role and position.

He also congratulated the successes of the 13th National Party Congress and General Secretary Trọng on being re-elected, and wished the Vietnamese Party leader good health on the occasion of the latter's birthday on April 14.

Modi stressed that Việt Nam is an important pillar of India's foreign policy, especially the Act East Policy, and expressed his favourable sentiments toward Việt Nam and the Vietnamese people.

The Indian PM also informed Party chief Trọng of the recent situation in India, including efforts at socio-economic recovery, building a supply chain to serve domestic demands and moving towards integration with the global supply chains.

General Secretary Trọng congratulated the achievements of the Government and people of India under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, including the handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and the recent victories of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in state legislative council elections.

The Vietnamese Party chief expressed his support for India's important role and contributions in the region and in the world, reaffirming the traditional friendship between Việt Nam and India which has been cultivated and promoted by many generations of leaders and people of the two countries.

He also appreciated the profound historical and cultural ties, and common interests on many important international issues which serve as the basis for effective cooperation and mutual support.

General Secretary Trọng discussed with Prime Minister Modi some highlights of Việt Nam's economic and political situation, as well as socio-economic development goals and foreign policy set out in the 13th National Party Congress, stressing that Việt Nam attaches importance to and wishes to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership with India both within the bilateral framework as well as in regional and international multilateral forums.

In the cordial and friendly atmosphere in celebration of the 50th anniversary of the two countries' establishment of diplomatic relations (January 7, 1972 – January 7, 2022), the two leaders expressed their delight at the strength and effectiveness of the Việt Nam-India comprehensive strategic partnership in recent times, especially with regards to COVID-19 response.

The two leaders agreed to further strengthen political trust, high-level contacts across Party, Government, National Assembly and people channels; promote relations between the Communist Party of Việt Nam and political parties in India, including the ruling BJP; assigned the agencies of the two countries to step up coordination to implement programmes and measures to promote bilateral relations in key cooperation fields to contribute to each country's recovery efforts.

They also concurred to continue to promote the effectiveness of defence and security cooperation, create favourable conditions to promote tourism cooperation as well as cultural exchange cooperation projects, and conservation and restoration of heritage sites.

The two also pledged to strengthen close coordination between the two countries in regional and international multilateral forums, for the benefit of the two peoples and for the sake of peace, stability and prosperous development in Asia as well as in the world.

General Secretary Trọng emphasised that against the backdrop of current complicated developments, Việt Nam and India should strengthen coordination to maintain peace and security, uphold international law, and promote the interests of developing nations, through each country's relationship with their partners and coordination at multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations, ASEAN, and other regional cooperation mechanisms.

The two leaders also discussed their stances on regional and international issues of mutual concern.

Regarding the South China Sea, the two sides agreed on the necessity of maintaining peace, stability, cooperation, development, respect for international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, respect for the sovereignty, sovereign rights of nations as well as freedom of aviation and navigation.

Regarding the situation in Ukraine, the two leaders reaffirmed the importance of respecting international law, refraining from using force or threatening to use force; and hoping that relevant parties will step up dialogue and negotiation to end hostilities and restore peace on the basis of respecting the legitimate interests of the parties, in accordance with international law, and ensuring the safety of people as well as addressing humanitarian issues.

On this occasion, General Secretary Trọng has cordially invited Indian Prime Minister Modi to visit Việt Nam again at an appropriate time. The Indian Prime Minister gladly accepted. — VNS