Bilateral Updates

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday held a ministerial-level bilateral meeting with Vietnamese Minister of National Defence Phan Van Giang in Hanoi, as India and Vietnam reviewed expanding defence ties and regional security cooperation. During the talks, Singh highlighted the historical foundations of the India-Vietnam relationship and underscored the significance of his visit coinciding with the 136th birth anniversary of former Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh.

India and Vietnam set a $25 billion annual trade target by 2030, up from $16 billion last fiscal, and elevated ties to an enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership in a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese President To Lam on Wednesday. The talks focussed on areas including trade, investments, banking, defence, agriculture, health, ICT and critical minerals with 13 MoUs signed in diverse areas such as digital payments and cooperation in rare earth elements and emerging technologies.