Policy Speech by President of Vietnam, H.E. Mr. To Lam at ICWA

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[00:00:02]Chandra.

[00:00:04]>> You like to say Chandra.

[00:00:11]>> President of the council.

[00:00:16]>> Ladies and gentlemen, namaste.

[00:00:23]It is a great pleasure and honor for me to visit the Indian Council of World Affairs and meet you, the leading international relations scholars and experts of your country and the world alike.

[00:00:41]The council is a premier strategic research organ, one of the most prestigious in the world with its history of 80 years, its role as a frontr runner and a shaper of Indian foreign relations.

[00:00:58]This historic sapper house bears witness to a great many watershed moment in the history of India, of Asian states, of the world and of Vietnam also. This is a gathering place for leaders, politicians, and diplomats all over the world.

[00:01:16]Here in 1947, an extremely momentous conference took place, the first Asian relations conference that germinated the birth of the nonaligned movement that linked together India, Vietnam and other states that shared an aspiration for independence, peace, cooperation and development and fairness and prosperity.

[00:01:44]This message of peace and solidarity that President Himing conveyed to the Contra was through solidarity we will be one of the strongest guardians of global peace and democracy.

[00:01:58]This message had received great applause in India and the world alike.

[00:02:05]This was one of the first links between two newly independent countries being India and Vietnam. It also marked one of the first multilateral diplomacy event that the independent Vietnam was part of.

[00:02:23]For our discussion today, I would like to speak to you about the relationship between Vietnam and India in a new era.

[00:02:30]an enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership of shared vision, strategic convergence and substantive cooperation.

[00:02:41]Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, if we look back upon thousands of years of our two countries in the making, the history and the culture have become the ties that bind Vietnam and India together. Our two countries are not geographically adjacent. Yet the ties between our two countries that emerge early through maritime trade routes. The flower of Indian faiths, religions, philosophies, and civilization spread early to and became part of the cultural and spiritual life of the Vietnamese people. These links are evident in hundreds of monuments all over Vietnam, such as the Lilo, the center, UNESCO, the MISON sanctuary and UNESCO world heritage site, the Cham Tower, the Porn Tower, the relics of Hinduism, Buddhism, handinhand with the Vietnamese people's philosophy of benevolence.

[00:03:42]These links today live on expressed in new diverse ways.

[00:03:47]National leaders have paid for example many visits to Vietnam to attend the international day of vessup including the visit by vice president Ben Kaya Naidu in 2019.

[00:04:03]Generations of Vietnamese have found great familiarity in the Ramayana, the Indian heroic epic that gave prize to that gave praise to bravery, loyalty and sacrifice and shape what these virtues mean. From its origin in India, the art of yoga has grown in popularity in Vietnam with 4,000 clubs all over Vietnam and 500,000 regular practitioners.

[00:04:31]Every year tens of thousands of Vietnamese Buddhists and visitors go on pilgrimage to the B Gaya in the state of Bihar.

[00:04:44]The journey of struggle for national independence and national construction has brought about deep empathy, unity and solidarity between our two countries peoples and leaders from one generation to the next. Beginning with the respect that President Ho Chi Ming had for the great leader Mahatma Gandhi and President Hoiming's close friendship with the first prime minister Jawaharonu as they strove together for independence, peace, equality and prosperity.

[00:05:15]We shall never forget that Prime Minister Jawahar Lonu was the first foreign head of government to pay a visit to Vietnam in 194 54, a mere week after the liberation of Hanoi in full.

[00:05:34]This was a demonstration of the immense support that the people and government have accorded to the cause of Vietnamese people. Nor shall we ever forget, Aranam, Vietnam, Vietnam that resounded along the streets in so many Indian cities that evidenced the solidarity and camaraderie between our two peoples in the shared struggle for peace, independence and freedom for our nations.

[00:06:04]Nor of course shall we forget our Indian friends who stood firmly on our side in the years of hardship after national liberation and reunification.

[00:06:16]Vietnam will always treasure and memorialize all the support immense and profound and invaluable as they are that the people the parties and the government of India had given to Vietnam throughout the years of struggle in defense of national independence and freedom in the past. Just as the concrete support and assistance pledged to Vietnam in our national construction and development of today.

[00:06:39]Ladies and gentlemen, dear friend, indeed the developmental journeys of our two countries over the past 80 years share many commonalities and have yielded monumental gains.

[00:06:49]Both our countries first of all started out as colonial economies in great distress, exploited to the bone, one may say, underskilled, unbalanced, reliant on foreign countries yet without dream.

[00:07:01]so of prosperity of bringing well-being and happiness to our people. Our two countries have gradually built our self independent self-reliant solid economies. India today has become the fastest growing major economy in the world forging ahead at 7.6% last year against global headwinds maintaining the record growth of 6% on average over three consecutive decades making itself one of the most important engines of global growth.

[00:07:30]Now the Indian economy stands at fourth place in the world in sheer size and is well the way to third place. India has become a technological powerhouse. One of the most dynamic digital innovative and AI economies in the world with the Bengaluru center, the Hyderabad biotech center and such high quality human resource training centers such as the globally influential Indian institute of technology. The Indian Space Research Organization space program has brought India into the short list of global space capability leaders for Vietnam. After 40 years of Doy and intensive regional and international integration, now has a $514 billion economy, a 100fold where it was before the Doy process, ranking second in the world and fourth in AAN. It occupies the 44th place out of 139 countries in the world in the global innovation index and bowls the startup ecosystem ranking 55th in the world.

[00:08:39]Poverty rate has fallen sharply from 70% in the mid 1980s to 2.95% in 2025 in accordance with the multilateral poverty standards leaving millions out of poverty in the process.

[00:08:55]In foreign relations, both countries share a common view on independence, self-reliance, self-empowerment and peace, a strong support for dialogue and an active balance and responsible approach towards regional and global issue. I am deeply impressed by the Indian philosophy of Batsuta Bakam. The whole world is a family. It upholds friendship, respect, solidarity and a desire for peace and prosperity is the very values that the Vietnamese nation consistently aim for.

[00:09:25]We very much appreciate your responsible contributions through strategic cooperation frameworks and connectivity initiatives. The act east policy for closer bond with Southeast Asia, the Indo-Pacific initiative to advance an open inclusive rulesbased space.

[00:09:46]We also applaud India's growing prominence at multilateral mechanisms especially the UN the G20s the bricks the Indian Ocean Ram association and the Bengal initiative for multis sectoral technical and economic cooperation all of which had contributed to dialog connectivity and the solution of common challenges Vietnam on our part has also successfully assumed important international responsibilities such as Azan Chairmanship, Apac host, non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, member of the United Nations Human Rights Council, vice president of the United Nations International Law Commission, member of the board of governors of the International Energy Agency, and member of various governance organs under the UNESCO.

[00:10:37]Vietnam has also sent officers and servicemen to United Nations peacekeeping missions. Both Vietnam and India are marching forward towards new developmental goals to celebrate 100 years of independence to keep a balance between growth of social process in which the role of science and technology is indispensable.

[00:10:58]India had set its sight on the 2047 vix at Barat to make India a developed country striking a balance between economic growth, social progress, environmental sustainability, government efficiency and scientific and technological capability. Vietnam has also set a dual goal by 2030 to become a developing country with modern industries and upper media income and by 2045 to become a developed high-income country.

[00:11:28]These double centenary targets are immensely strategically significant and expression of the Vietnamese nation's desire for growth in a new era.

[00:11:37]To do so, we must strongly innovative growth model, foster rapid and sustainable development, maintain independence and self-reliance in hand with intensive and effective international integration. Most importantly, we view the development of science, technology, innovation and digital transformation as not only a tool to support development but also a main driver of development itself.

[00:12:01]The relationship between our two countries therefore are shaped and cultivated on the ground of trust and camaraderie. Diplomatic relations began in 1972.

[00:12:11]Upgrade to strategic partnership in 2007, followed by a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016, and has only grown broader and deeper ever since. Bilateral trade tripled after a mere decade to a record figure of 16.5 billion US in 2025.

[00:12:30]India today employs 400 investment projects in Vietnam with more than $1 billion. Vietnam's Vinfast Mingua is investing into EV production in India having pledged $2 billion over the first five years. Defense and security corporation continue to be a strategic pillar with a wide range of credit support and tech transfer program.

[00:12:54]Education, training, tourism, and people-to-people ties have also been expanded. More than 80 direct flights between our two countries take off and land every week.

[00:13:04]Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, relations between Vietnam and India is stepping up, entering a new stage. The world is changing rapidly and deeply like never before. Competition among major centers of power of the world, expanding international laws, the United Nation and multilateral institutions are facing unprecedented challenges.

[00:13:27]All countries including Vietnam and India are facing the paradoxes of our time. The need for cooperation grows greater yet trust is wearing tin.

[00:13:37]Economic structures are now more deeply interconnected yet are also more vulnerable. Technologies are leaping ahead yet are also deepening the developmental gap among nations.

[00:13:51]Changes are creating immense challenges but above all they also open up opportunities for the taking if we can grasp them at the right time and these opportunities shall only multiply if we are linked together. Ladies and gentlemen, dear friends, the new backdrop and setting demands of our two countries new developmental stage call for us to strengthen, innovate and elevate the relationship between Vietnam and India to a greater height. Our respective developmental journey and that of our relationship has shown that Vietnam and India have become each other's natural partners concerning peace, security and development. We share a common view and vision as to the making of our nation, our region, our world and international relations which is to say first strategic self-reliance and balance.

[00:14:42]Second, the respect for international law support for the United Nations and the multilateral system. Third, the defense and making of peace and diversification of partners. Fourth, the championing of dialogue in search of commonalities to narrow down differences. And fifth, support for a fair and inclusive regional and international order.

[00:15:07]At the same time, many of our strategic interests converge, especially the following four. First, to advance peace and stability to pave the way for development and prosperity.

[00:15:20]Two, building intertwining interests across various theaters, economic, trade, defense, security, science, technology to elevate connectivity and the resilience of of our bilateral tie.

[00:15:31]Three, to champion freedom, security and safety, of navigation over flight, the peaceful settlement of disputes through peaceful means, and to force an open, inclusive and stable Indo Asia-Pacific, and four, to augment cooperation at regional multilateral mechanisms. These links, these shared vision, these strategic convergence provide a solid foundation for Vietnam and India to step up cooperation and make effective contributions to the developmental journey of each country in a new era while also contributing to the shaping of more stable and enduring regional and international environment.

[00:16:09]as a continuation of the solid foundation of our relationship over the past 50 years and to bring this bond of cooperation into a new era, a new height. They enhance comprehensive strategic partnership with sharing vision, strategic convergence and substantive cooperation as our watch to unleash potentials, explore new area areas and open new fields. As such, we should work on the following key lines of actions. First, we must reinforce and deepen strategic trust as the premise for the maintenance of a stable relationship and the foundation for effective cooperation and response to common challenges.

[00:16:51]Over the past 50 years, relations between Vietnam and India has become a special relationship clear as a cloudless sky to quote the late Prime Minister Fat Vandong.

[00:17:04]It is special and pure because it was founded upon historic cultural toys.

[00:17:09]Mutual understanding and empathy and respect and policy consistency built in common cause between generation of our two leaders, our two countries leaders and people. It is special and pure because there is no conflict between our interests and a great deal of stability in our cooperation. In the new era, we must first continue to foster comprehensive exchanges across all channels, state, parliamentary, party, people and at all levels both central and local.

[00:17:39]Second, expand cooperation in strategic sectors.

[00:17:45]Excellent as defense and security cooperation has been, it should grow better and deeper.

[00:17:51]Cooperation mechanisms are available and they must be better harnessed. We should enhance collaborative action and coordination of our respective positions at multilateral forums including the AAN the UN the non-aligned movement especially as a regional and international landscape are evolving in such complex ways.

[00:18:10]Second we should broaden room for connectivity and intensify developmental linkages to land more impetus to regional connectivity. The development of infrastructure, logistics, digitalization and value chain linkages is an important part of bilateral connectivity for highly complimentary sectors such as pharmaceuticals, i.e. high-tech agri business and clean energy. We must advance concrete cooperation projects including joint production, technology transfer, market development to jointly engage more deeply with the regional supply chain.

[00:18:46]We stand ready to work together with India in the pharmaceutical sector. We welcome Indian pharmaceutical firms investing into manufacturing in Vietnam for the Southeast Asian market. We should also expand mechanisms to forge direct links between our businesses and our localities through cooperation forums and investment promotion programs. This way we will turn cooperation guidelines into concrete projects tailored to each sector, each locality, each supply chain. relationship between Vietnam and India is a strategic column linking Southeast and South Asia through the enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership. The Azan India framework, the Meong Ganga cooperation among other regional cooperation initiatives, our two countries may well help reinforce an open, inclusive and dynamic development of space. At the same time, new ways of thinking, new missions, new areas of cooperation must go together with a new way of doing decisive and whose effectiveness shall be measurable by pace and concrete outcomes.

[00:19:50]Third, we need to elevate and accelerate scientific innovation and strategic technology cooperation and make this field into a keystone of Vietnam India cooperation.

[00:20:02]Knowledge, technology and innovation have become key drivers of growth. New factors determining a nation's combined power and competitiveness. This calls for deeper, more diverse manners of cooperation in areas that would shape a future such as digital economy, data, semiconductor and artificial intelligence.

[00:20:24]We attach special importance to cooperation with India in the fields of science and technology especially in strategic sectors such as semiconductors, AI and digital transformation.

[00:20:35]I believe we are very well positioned to more vigorously pursue and explore complimentary areas of cooperation drive through strategic cooperation in science and innovation and strategic technology not only through setting guidelines but also in implementation. This can be done through identifying spearheads and their delivery models, establishing corporate collaboration programs between research centers, universities, businesses handinhand with education and movement of quality talent between our two countries. Fourth, we should disseminate social cultural values and strengthen people-to-people ties. The longevity relationships among nations are forged not only through cooperation frameworks but also through links between human beings, between societies.

[00:21:26]Last year saw 1 million travelers between our two countries, showing just how deep and how broad the connections we share have grown. This is a giant step forward. compared to five or six years ago yet remain very small compared to the size of our populations, the size of our economies. We should continue to broaden and deepen these links through educational and training, cultural tourism, locality cooperation, and people-to-people toys, especially among the young generations.

[00:22:01]It is from lecture halls, laboratories, research projects and young startups that mutual understanding and trust shall naturally grow and take root.

[00:22:12]This understanding and empathy accumulated over centuries is an invaluable asset to be treasured and preserved and a source of inspiration urging both countries to work together to disseminate and augment such noble values for the region and the world.

[00:22:28]Such values once inherited and advanced by the young generations shall play a role in reinforcing the very foundation of bilateral relations towards the future.

[00:22:40]Fifth, we must together build and reinforce a space for peace and stability. We are all well aware of the profound value of peace in the world today. It is all the planer to see that peace does not merely mean the absence of war and conflict. It also means the building and reinforcing a structural, institutional and cultural conditions to promote sustainable peace, justice, prosperity for all mankind. Peace too is not to be taken for granted. It is the outcome of sincere dialogue of responsibility in the conduct of affairs among state of unwavering respect for the fundamental principles of the UN charter and international law. Our two countries advancement of dialogue, championing of the rule of law and peaceful settlement of disputes and positioning of development as the core interests of people are not only in the protection of our respective legitimate interests but are also a direct contribution to the maintenance of an open, transparent, inclusive and rules-based regional order. Ladies and gentlemen, the thousands of years of our links, more than 50 years of diplomatic relations have provided a solid and invaluable foundation for the relationship between Vietnam and India.

[00:23:57]We are connected by threats woven by the depth and breadth of history and commonalities along our developmental paths. India has always been to Vietnam an instrumental partner and a close trusted friend. We are entering a new era equipped with the Enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership elevated to greater height.

[00:24:18]Sharing vision, strategic convergence and substantive cooperation as our moto even active government solution and the spirit of determination, solidarity, innovation and creativity of our respective business communities.

[00:24:32]Certainly relations between Vietnam and India shall grow stronger, more concrete and our links shall be further bolstered to bring about tangible benefits and success to the development of each countries and contribute positively to peace, to stability, to cooperation and to prosperity in the region and the world.

[00:24:51]May good health and success be with you.

[00:24:53]May the friendship between our two nations, Vietnam and India, grow closer and greater. Thank you very much.