Indian ambassador Sandeep Arya wrote to Việt Nam News on India's Independence Day.
Today is the 79th Independence Day of India. This year also marks the 75th anniversary of the Constitution of India. India is rejoicing its vibrant polity, sound economic growth and rising social development as the world’s most populous country.
Two weeks ago, the International Monetary Fund raised India’s real GDP growth estimate to 6.7 per cent for the year 2025 in its World Economic Outlook Update, while the inflation rate in India dropped to a low of 2.1 per cent. This year, non-fossil installed power generation in India crossed 50 per cent of our total installed power capacity. Nine hundred million Indians are supported by social security and the world’s largest health insurance scheme in India covers 580 million people.
Last month, India celebrated its first astronaut at the International Space Station, while the Indian Space Research Organisation is making steady progress towards its first indigenous human spaceflight mission in 2027. India records the highest number of real-time digital transactions per day globally. Tradition thrives alongside technology in India, reflecting the country’s rich culture and heritage.
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| People join the International Day of Yoga 2025 on June 7 at Hùng Kings Temple Complex in Phú Thọ Province. Photo Courtesy of the embassy |
I congratulate Việt Nam on the 50th anniversary of the Liberation of the South and National Reunification and the upcoming 80th anniversary of the August Revolution and National Day. I compliment Việt Nam on its enormous national journey, impressive growth and upward development path.
The healthy trajectory of India and Việt Nam resonates with the goals of Developed India @ 2047 and Vietnam Vision 2045. We strive to ensure that more than seven decades of strong and steady partnership between India and Việt Nam continue to thrive and contribute to our shared future objectives.
People are at the centre of India-Việt Nam friendship and this year has been extraordinary in our people-driven ties. The Sacred Buddha Relics from India were visited by over 15 per cent of the Vietnamese population within just one month. The International Day of Yoga 2025, marking its tenth anniversary celebration, with the theme ‘One Earth, One Health’ was revered at 43 venues across Việt Nam in June and July. Indian film festivals have been held in 31 places in Việt Nam this year.
Our people-to-people connections extend to over 200 educational and training scholarships in India, the ongoing phase II of restoration project at Mỹ Sơn world heritage site, new records in two-way tourism (over 500,000 Indians and 54,000 plus Vietnamese visited each other last year), seven Indian cities connected by direct flights to three Vietnamese cities, the world premier in Đà Nãng last month of the Bollywood film ‘Love in Việt Nam,' two way cultural troupe visits and so on.
Trade, investment and business relations are moving up, with annual trade volume exceeding US$15 billion. Indian companies are expanding their investments in Việt Nam, and new businesses are exploring projects continuously.
Ten days ago, VinFast inaugurated its electric vehicle assembly plant in India — its first production facility outside Việt Nam. The ongoing review of the 2009 ASEAN–India Trade in Goods Agreement aims to establish a user-friendly, trade-facilitative regime in the near future.
Defence and security cooperation is another significant facet of our bilateral partnership. Training, annual defence exercises, military staff talks, ship visits, policy dialogue and projects nurture close defence cooperation.The Annual Security Dialogue eight months ago identified further areas for collaboration between our security establishments.
The Plan of Action for implementing the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership for 2024–28, signed by the two Foreign Ministers during the Vietnamese Prime Minister’s State visit to India last year, serves as a guiding framework for our cooperation. Last September, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and General Secretary Tô Lâm agreed to expand bilateral cooperation.
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| Indian experts work with Vietnamese counterparts at Mỹ Sơn UNESCO World Heritage Site in Quảng Nam Province on June 22, 2025. Photo Courtesy of the embassy |
The Thirteenth Political Consultations and Tenth Strategic Dialogue at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers, held in June this year, reviewed progress in our partnership. Bilateral exchanges involving governments, parliaments, political parties, provinces, businesses, friendship societies, youth, universities, scholars and others continue to enrich the ties between our two countries. We are consistently exploring new ways to strengthen our relations, with technology and digital applications emerging as key areas of focus.
Coordination in international organisations, as well as on global and regional issues, represents another important dimension of the India–Việt Nam partnership. Last month, India submitted the amendment and played a key role in advancing the inscription of the Yên Tử Complex as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. We regularly exchange views on international developments and stand together on a range of issues, including the priorities of the Global South.
I believe that strengthening the India-Việt Nam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will reach new levels in the coming years as the two countries march forward with focus and determination. VNS
