Vice President Venkaiah Naidu's visit to Vietnam, which began on Thursday, is the latest in a series of high-level exchanges between the two countries in the last few years.
Last year, both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind visited the Southeast Asian country, and there was a reciprocal visit by the president of Vietnam in March. Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Army Chief General Bipin Rawat too had visited the country in 2018.
Vietnam, with which India has had ties both in the ancient days and modern times, has emerged as an important country for India's diplomatic outreach—a pillar of its Act East Policy. During PM Modi's 2016 visit to Vietnam, the relation between the two nations was elevated to comprehensive strategic partnership. Apart from India, Vietnam has such a partnership with only China and Russia.
India not only trains Vietnam's navy personnel, but has also sold some military equipment to the country. It is keen to sell more, specially the Akash surface-to-air missiles. India concluded a navy exercise with Vietnam recently.
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Apart from defence, the two countries are also strengthening economic ties. In a recent address to Indian industry, Vietnam's ambassador to India, Pham Sanh Chau, had said that bilateral trade stood at 11.5 billion dollars and investment at one billion and added that this could be increased.
Naidu will have meetings with Vice President of Vietnam Dang Thi Ngoc Thinh, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Chairperson of National Assembly of Vietnam Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan. He will also deliver keynote address at the sixth United Nations Day of Vesak Celebration at Tam Chuc Pagoda, Ha Nam Province.
The vice president will interact with the Vietnamese beneficiaries of the Jaipur Foot Fitment Camp that India organised to celebrate the 150th anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi's birth.