Vietnam President to Visit India Next Week Amid Regional Tensions

Vietnamese President To Lam to Visit India Amidst Growing Geopolitical Tensions

Vietnamese President To Lam is set to undertake a three-day visit to India from May 5 to 7, as part of efforts to strengthen bilateral ties in defence, trade, and critical technologies. The visit comes amidst growing geopolitical upheavals and trade disruptions.

President Lam, who also serves as General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, will lead a high-level delegation of ministers and top executives during his state visit to India. This will be his first state visit to India since being elected as president this month.

During the visit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Lam will hold wide-ranging talks to boost the overall trajectory of the India-Vietnam comprehensive strategic partnership. The focus will be on enhancing ties in trade, defence, and critical technologies.

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Key Highlights of the Visit

The visiting leader will be accorded a ceremonial welcome at the forecourt of Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 6, as announced by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA). The two leaders are expected to discuss regional and global issues of mutual interest, including the prevailing situation in West Asia and the South China Sea.

The South China Sea has been a source of concern for several countries, including Vietnam, the Philippines, and Brunei, which have counterclaims to China's sweeping claims of sovereignty over the region. India and other democratic countries have been pressing for a peaceful settlement of the disputes and adherence to international law, particularly the UNCLOS.

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The two sides are set to explore ways to boost defence cooperation, especially in the maritime domain. Last year, they signed a pact to set up a framework for submarine search, rescue, and support mechanism, as well as a letter of intent to strengthen bilateral defence industry collaboration.

During the visit, President Droupadi Murmu will meet with President Lam, and other Indian dignitaries are expected to call on him. The Vietnamese leader will also visit Bodh Gaya and Mumbai.

President To Lam's visit coincides with the 10th anniversary of the elevation of relations to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, agreed during Prime Minister Modi's visit to Vietnam in 2016. The engagement between leaders is expected to provide fresh momentum to the robust bilateral relations and open new avenues for cooperation between India and Vietnam.