India-Vietnam partnership 'will benefit Asia and rest of the world': PM Modi

Asserting that India attaches high priority to its relations with Vietnam, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said the partnership between both sides will benefit Asia and the rest of the world.

Greeting the people of Vietnam on their National Day, Prime Minister Modi on his official Facebook page said, "Vietnam is a friendly nation with whom we cherish our relationship."

"Today evening, I will reach Hanoi in Vietnam, marking the start of a very important visit that will further cement the close bond between India and Vietnam. My government attaches a high priority to our bilateral relations with Vietnam. The India-Vietnam partnership will benefit Asia and the rest of the world," he added.

The Prime Minister said that he would hold extensive discussions with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc during the visit and would review the complete spectrum of the bilateral relationship.

"I will also meet the President of Vietnam, Tran Dai Quang, the General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam, Nguyen Phu Trong; and the Chairperson of the National Assembly of Vietnam, Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan," he said.

"We wish to forge a strong economic relationship with Vietnam that can mutually benefit our citizens. Strengthening the people-to-people ties will also be an my endeavour during the Vietnam visit," he added.

Prime Minister Modi further said that he will also have the opportunity to pay homage to Ho Chi Minh, one of 20th century's tallest leaders.

"I will lay a wreath at the Monument of National Heroes and Martyrs as well as visit the Quan Su Pagoda," he said.

Prime Minister Modi will embark on a two-nation tour to Vietnam and China starting today.

During the first leg of his four-day visit, Prime Minister Modi will first reach Vietnamese capital Hanoi on Friday night, where he will meet President Tran Dai Quang and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and hold wide-ranging talks with the top leadership to deepen ties in key areas of defence, security and trade, and oil exploration.

Briefing the media yesterday, Secretary (East), External Affairs Ministry, Preeti Saran, said, "Vietnam is India's important strategic partner and the visit is aimed at further strengthening bilateral ties, including defence, security and trade.

On September 3, the Prime Minister will leave for Hangzhou, China, from Vietnam to attend the G-20 summit on September 4 and 5.