At the event, General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee and State President To Lam stressed that the time has come for bilateral cooperation to reach a higher level, not only in scale, but more importantly in quality, depth and strategic value.

General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central
Committee and State President To Lam on May 7 underscored that Vietnam–India
cooperation should be positioned within the broader context of the world’s most
dynamic growth centres and leading trends, including digital technology,
artificial intelligence (AI), semiconductors and green transition, according to
a report from the Vietnam News Agency.

The Vietnamese top leader  made the remarks at the India – Vietnam
Business Forum, jointly organised by the Vietnam Chamber of Commerce and
Industry and the Confederation of Indian Industry in Mumbai, Maharashtra,
during his state visit to India.

The forum served not only as a platform for information
exchange but also as a venue for direct meetings among hundreds of enterprises
from both countries across sectors including information technology, automobile
manufacturing, pharmaceuticals, tourism, agriculture, investment, medical
equipment, food processing, aviation, logistics, and electronics.

General Secretary and President Lam stressed that
Vietnam–India relations, built not only on the deep historical foundations laid
by Vietnamese President Ho Chi Minh and Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru,
are entering a historic phase with opportunities to be elevated into strategic
connectivity within emerging global value chains.

He affirmed that Vietnam remains committed to a development
path based on stability, integration and innovation, while entering a new stage
of development with the goal of becoming a high-income developed country by
2045.

Vietnam is not only an attractive investment destination but
also a reliable and long-term partner for international businesses, the leader
stressed.

He noted that amid the reshaping regional economic
architecture, Vietnam and India are not merely two dynamic developing
economies, but also key pillars linking Southeast Asia and South Asia within
the Indo-Pacific space. While Vietnam serves as a gateway to the Association of
Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) through its extensive network of
next-generation free trade agreements, India acts as a central hub in South
Asia with an increasingly important role in global supply chains.

Enhanced connectivity between the two economies therefore
carries significance not only bilaterally but also in opening access to broader
markets and emerging value chains, he said.

Economic relations between Vietnam and India have achieved
encouraging results in recent years, the leader observed. Practical cooperation
has shown positive signs, with several Vietnamese firms expanding investment in
India in sectors such as electric vehicles, charging infrastructure and
technology services. Meanwhile, Indian companies operating in Vietnam have
increased their presence in manufacturing, energy and processing industries.
Although still modest in scale, these developments signal a shift from
transactional ties towards deeper engagement, from trade towards investment and
joint development.

General Secretary and President Lam stressed that the time
has come for bilateral cooperation to reach a higher level, not only in scale,
but more importantly in quality, depth and strategic value.

He called on the business communities of both countries to
focus on breakthrough areas of cooperation, including expanding trade in a more
balanced and sustainable manner, making better use of the complementary
strengths of the two economies, and boosting investment in future-oriented
sectors such as information technology, AI, semiconductors, pharmaceuticals,
biotechnology, clean energy, logistics, data centres and research and
development.

The leader also urged stronger connectivity in
infrastructure, logistics, aviation and tourism to facilitate the smoother flow
of goods, capital and human resources, while promoting cooperation in
high-quality workforce training and knowledge transfer.

Vietnam, he affirmed, remains committed to safeguarding the
legitimate rights and interests of investors, strengthening dialogue and
fostering a transparent and competitive business environment. The country
aspires not only to be a destination for investment, but also a place where
businesses can grow sustainably over the long term.

General Secretary and President Lam expressed hope that
Vietnamese and Indian enterprises would become more proactive and ambitious in
investment, partnerships, technology sharing and market expansion, transforming
meetings and exchanges into concrete agreements, contracts and projects.

The Party and State of Vietnam will continue to accompany
the business community in turning cooperation projects and agreements into new
success stories in Vietnam–India relations, he pledged.

VNA-Khanh Chi