PM Modi meets Vietnamese counterpart on BRICS summit sidelines
What's the story
Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with Vietnamese Prime Minister Le Minh Hung in New Delhi on Saturday. The meeting took place on the sidelines of the 18th BRICS Summit, which India is hosting from September 12-13. The summit's theme is "Building for Resilience, Innovation, Cooperation and Sustainability," with a focus on development, sustainability, and innovation.
Strategic focus
India and Vietnam have an enhanced comprehensive strategic partnership
The two leaders discussed strengthening their partnership in defense and security, fintech, critical minerals, and other emerging areas.
India and Vietnam have an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership based on a long history of friendship and cooperation, as the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) noted.
The partnership also includes multilateral cooperation efforts.
Summit goals
Vietnam sees BRICS as opportunity to strengthen ties with India
Vietnam sees the summit as a chance to deepen its relationship with India and other BRICS member states.
Prime Minister Hung is expected to present Vietnam's vision on international cooperation, economic growth, sustainable development, and global challenges.
Earlier this year, Vietnamese President To Lam visited India, and both countries agreed to upgrade their bilateral relations further.
Summit context
BRICS now has 21 countries
India's BRICS Chairship comes amid global economic fragmentation, technological disruption, geopolitical uncertainty, climate change, and resource pressures.
The focus is on translating the expanded representation of BRICS into meaningful cooperation and tangible outcomes.
The grouping currently comprises 11 countries: Brazil, China, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, and the United Arab Emirates, and 10 partner countries, including Nigeria, Belarus, Bolivia, Cuba, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Thailand, Uganda, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam.