HÀ NỘI – The establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership between Việt Nam and India will create a new momentum for the development of the two countries and the whole region in general. 

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi made the remark at a meeting with Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng in Hà Nội today during his official visit to Việt Nam. 
The PM said Việt Nam and India have overcome difficulties to develop relations over years, stressing that Việt Nam plays a key role in India’s “Act East” policy and appreciating the country’s support for India at both regional and international forums. 
Party General Secretary Nguyễn Phú Trọng spoke highly of the PM’s visit to Việt Nam, saying it demonstrates the attention of the Indian Government and the PM personally to boosting the time-honoured friendship forged between the two countries. 
He confirmed that the Communist Party of Việt Nam and the Vietnamese people always treasure the long-lasting amity and comprehensive strategic partnership with India, as well as support the country’s “Act East” policy and its increased presence in and connectivity with Southeast Asia. 
The Party leader agreed with the PM’s proposal of enhancing high-level delegation and people-to-people exchanges while maintaining the current cooperation mechanisms and promoting affiliation across fields. 
The two sides continue close coordination at regional and international forums, especially of the United Nations (UN), Non-Aligned Movement (NAM), World Trade Organisation (WTO), and Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), he added.
On the day, the Indian guest was greeted by President Trần Đại Quang at the Presidential Palace.
President Trần Đại Quang spoke highly of the talks between PMs Narendra Modi and Nguyễn Xuân Phúc, especially their decision to elevate the two countries’ strategic partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership. 

He expressed his belief that the orientations discussed by the two leaders will create a fresh driving force and cooperation opportunities for bilateral relations to grow extensively and match with the freshly-formed comprehensive strategic partnership.
The President asserted that Việt Nam encourages Indian oil and gas companies to broaden cooperative activities in projects implemented in the two countries or the third countries. 
The two countries should study expanding partnerships in civil aviation, marine transportation, and road connectivity, Quang added. 
PM Narendra Modi told his host that the upgrade of bilateral ties to comprehensive strategic partnership is a clear evidence of the trust shared by the two countries. 
He reiterated that India places an extreme importance on Việt Nam in its “Act East” policy and noted that the two countries should expand their cooperation in economics, trade and investment to create a win-win playing ground.
He expressed his hope that the commitments made by Vietnamese leaders provide a foundation for the two countries to reap new successes. 
Meeting with the Indian guest the same day, National Assembly (NA) Chairwoman Nguyễn Thị Kim Ngân underlined the significance of Modi’s official visit, considering it a practical action to build up political trust and solidarity between the countries’ peoples. 
She also spoke highly of the lifting of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and believed that it will create a new framework to intensify their cooperation across the board, particularly politics, economics, defence-security, trade-investment, science-technology, and culture-education. 
She assured that the Vietnamese NA will provide favourable legal conditions for the effective implementation of cooperation agreements between the two Governments. 
She also appreciated the Indian parliament’s support for the Indian Government’s policies and activities on enhancing the traditional amity and strategic partnership with Việt Nam in recent years. 
The Vietnamese NA attaches importance to cooperation with India and advocates the country’s “Act East” policy and all-round connectivity with Southeast Asia. 
For his part, PM Modi said in his talks with PM Nguyễn Xuân Phúc the two sides achieved a long-term vision on bilateral relations and pledged to realise the reached agreements. 
He said India-Việt Nam cooperation benefits not only their own nations but also the region. 
The visiting PM said he hopes the countries’ parliaments will bolster affiliation in the time ahead, including through delegation exchanges and experience sharing. 
In the afternoon, PM Modi left Hà Nội, sucessfully concluding his official visit to Việt Nam. VNS