During the Brics Summit on Saturday, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Lê Minh Hưng. The two leaders focused on enhancing collaboration in key areas such as defence, energy, and the extraction of rare earth minerals. This meeting underscores the growing ties between India and Vietnam amidst regional geopolitical shifts.
Modi and Hung reviewed the progress in bilateral ties since they were elevated to an enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership during Vietnam President To Lam’s visit to India in May. They also discussed regional and global issues. Modi also held a separate meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed Ali of Ethiopia, one of the newer members of Brics. Ali is on his first visit to India. They also discussed regional and international developments.
Modi said on social media that he had productive discussions with Hung on deepening defence and security cooperation, including a proposed 2+2 mechanism of the defence and foreign ministers. The two sides are working towards $25 billion in bilateral trade by 2030 and greater two-way investment, as well as strengthening their cultural and civilisational linkages.
They also discussed the expansion of cooperation in energy, rare earths and space, he said. “Vietnam will always remain a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy and MAHASAGAR vision,” Modi said. Modi said on social media his talks with Ali covered defence, capacity building, investment linkages, critical minerals, clean energy and healthcare. The external affairs ministry said the two leaders held discussions to strengthen the bilateral strategic partnership and reviewed progress in key sectors such as economic cooperation, defence and security partnership, and capacity building.
