The conference was honored to welcome Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu, Deputy Foreign Minister, and Mr. Pranay Verma, Indian Ambassador in Vietnam. On the Indian side, there were the online attendances of Mr. Muraleedharan, Minister of State for External Affairs, and Mr. Pham Sanh Chau, Ambassador of Vietnam to India. Attending the teleconference, there were Prof. Ph.D. Dang Nguyen Anh, Vice President of VASS; Assoc. Prof. Nguyen Xuan Trung, Director of VIISAS; Ph.D. Le Thi Hang Nga, the associate editor of India and Asia magazine of VIIAS, together with scholars, experts, strategic researchers from leading research centers in Vietnam and India, and representatives of important policymaking agencies of the two countries.
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On the behalf of the Leaders of the Academy, Vice President Dang Nguyen Anh warmly welcomed the attendance of all participants, and at the same time emphasized the prospects in Vietnam – India relations in the setting of the “Asian Century” that has just appeared. Besides, the world is witnessing new opportunities and challenges with the Covid-19 pandemic, protectionism, and nationalism. This is a big challenge for the long-standing traditional friendship between Vietnam and India, but brings the two countries to "new horizons" at the same time. They are the “new horizons” of integration, connectivity, and development for joint prosperity. Covid-19 pandemic has become a powerful catalyst for development toward restructuring the global economy and politics, a new philosophy focusing on human and nature conservation. The Prof. Vice President expressed his firm belief in the development in the two countries’ relations, along with that Vietnam – India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will be key connectivity in India – Pacific initiatives.
Speaking at the conference, Mr. Nguyen Minh Vu, Mr. V. Muraleedha; Mr. Pranay Verma, and Mr. Pham Sanh repeatedly emphasized the potential and a bright future in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. They also expressed optimism in the development in Vietnam – India relations, as well as the convergence of prospects, connectivity, and ASEAN and Indo - Pacific cooperation.
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At the conference, the speakers focused on presenting, discussing, and re-evaluating the achievements and opportunities in Vietnam – India relations; studying the prospects in the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership against the context of regional and international geopolitics in the coming period, and looking for solutions to solve the problems in the bilateral relationship. In addition, experts and scientists from the two countries shared new ideas, and ways to approach Vietnam – India relations in terms of economy, security – defense, energy, culture, education, science and technology, and people-to-people exchange.
The conference was a valuable academic exchange platform for scientists, diplomats, scholars, and those who were interested in India to express their professional views. It was also a step to restart research activities between the two sides, aiming at further strengthening the good relations between Vietnam and India, contributing to peace, stability, and prosperity in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and the world.
Nguyen Thu Trang
