General Secretary and President To Lam recently concluded state visits to India from 5-7/5 and Sri Lanka from 7-8/5. This marks his first visit to India in his new capacity, coinciding with the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two nations. For Sri Lanka, it was the highest-level visit by a Vietnamese leader since the establishment of diplomatic relations.

"The visit was highly successful, achieving its objectives at a high level. With India, relations were elevated to an enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership; with Sri Lanka, it became a comprehensive partnership. This establishes new political frameworks, strengthening mutual trust and understanding," stated Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung, according to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Vietnam signed over 50 documents in India and 11 in Sri Lanka. Leaders from Vietnam and both nations discussed measures to advance bilateral relations.

"The visit created a strategic breakthrough, facilitating qualitative shifts in the development of relations with India and Sri Lanka," Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung noted.

General Secretary and President To Lam delivers a policy speech at the Indian Council of World Affairs in New Delhi on 6/5. *Photo: TTXVN*

The visit elevated relations with India to a new level, unlocking cooperation potential in security and defense, economy and trade, science and technology, education and training, culture, and people-to-people exchanges. This marks the beginning of a "golden era" for bilateral ties.

With Sri Lanka, both sides committed to strengthening comprehensive and substantive cooperation across all sectors. They agreed to increase bilateral trade turnover fivefold from its current level within the next few years.

General Secretary and President To Lam, along with leaders from India and Sri Lanka, agreed on the need to enhance coordination and mutual support. This cooperation will be based on respect for international law and the United Nations Charter, promoting multilateralism.

"The visit yielded comprehensive results with long-term strategic significance, fostering substantive shifts in cooperation. It contributes to enhancing Vietnam's role and standing in South Asia and on the international stage, ushering in a new, more comprehensive development phase for Vietnam's relations with India and Sri Lanka," Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung affirmed.

Foreign Minister Le Hoai Trung. *Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs*

"We will also cooperate with India and Sri Lanka to accelerate the implementation of high-level agreements and signed documents. This involves actively removing bottlenecks and barriers in cooperation, leading to clear improvements in substantive effectiveness and translating political orientations into concrete, measurable results," the Foreign Minister added.

For India, the focus will be on key areas such as: economic connectivity, trade, investment, strategic infrastructure development, logistics and supply chains, science and technology, innovation, culture, and tourism. For Sri Lanka, the emphasis will be on: infrastructure, telecommunications, high-tech agriculture, fisheries, green transition, and tourism, particularly spiritual tourism.

"We are confident that the visit's outcomes will be realized, fostering deeper, more substantive, and effective relations between Vietnam, India, and Sri Lanka. This will also contribute positively to peace, stability, and development in the region and globally," the Foreign Minister concluded.

Nhu Tam