President Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) presents a gift to outgoing Indian Ambassador to a Vietnam Pranay Verma, Hanoi, September 20, 2022. (Photo: VNA)

President Phuc emphasized that Vietnam consistently attaches importance to relations with India, which has also given precious support to Vietnam, adding bilateral ties are always sincere and their comprehensive strategic partnership has been growing fast.

Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, bilateral trade rose 18% to more than 13.2 billion USD in 2021 and could surpass 15 billion USD this year. 

President Phuc said Vietnam highly values the 320 FDI projects worth 1 billion USD from India and hopes for more investment from Indian enterprises in sectors such as processing, manufacturing, information technology, green energy, high-tech agriculture, infrastructure, and tourism.

He emphasized that Vietnam supports India’s “Act East” policy and hopes India will continue supporting ASEAN and Vietnam’s stance on the East Sea (known internationally as the South China Sea) issue, which is ensuring navigation and overflight safety and peacefully resolving disputes in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

Ambassador Verma praised achievements in the Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership.

Noting Indian leaders highly value relations with Vietnam, he said that the two countries should continue promoting bilateral ties in multiple areas, capitalise on their potential and advantages, and boost people-to-people exchanges.