EAM S Jaishankar arrives in Vietnam, to co-chair 18th Joint Commission Meeting tomorrow

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Sunday arrived in Vietnam on a four-day visit and was received at the renowned Tran Quoc pagoda by his counterpart Bui Thanh Son.

Jaishankar will be co-chairing the 18th meeting of the India-Vietnam Joint Commission on economic, trade and scientific, and technological cooperation on Monday.

Taking to X, Jaishankar said, “Arrived in Vietnam today. Thank you Vietnam Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son for the warm personal welcome at the renowned Tran Quoc pagoda. Looking forward to co-chairing the 18th Joint Commission Meeting tomorrow.”

“Arrived in Vietnam today. Thank you Vietnam Foreign Minister Bui Thanh Son for the warm personal welcome at the renowned Tran Quoc pagoda. Looking forward to co-chairing the 18th Joint Commission Meeting tomorrow,” tweets EAM Dr S Jaishankar

(Pic Source: EAM Dr S Jaishankar) pic.twitter.com/RBhpMCOWBM

— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2023

He added, “Visited the historical Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi. The age-old links between India and Vietnam are symbolized by the Bodhi tree here. Was gifted by President Rajendra Prasad in 1959 to President Ho Chi Minh.”

“Visited the historical Tran Quoc Pagoda in Hanoi. The age-old links between India and Vietnam are symbolized by the Bodhi tree here. Was gifted by President Rajendra Prasad in 1959 to President Ho Chi Minh,” tweets EAM Dr S Jaishankar

(Pic Source: EAM Dr S Jaishankar) pic.twitter.com/fGm4lERr7T

— ANI (@ANI) October 15, 2023

In Vietnam, Jaishankar will discuss ways to review the progress in several areas and discuss ways to further enhance cooperation, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Saturday.

Jaishankar’s visit to the strategically-located Southeast Asian country comes less than three months after India gifted missile corvette INS Kirpan to the Vietnamese armed forces, in reflection of the growing bilateral strategic partnership amid common concerns over China’s increasingly aggressive behaviour in the South China Sea.

It was for the first time that India handed over a fully-operational corvette to any friendly foreign country.

“India and Vietnam share a robust comprehensive strategic partnership. Vietnam is a key member of our Act East Policy. The external affairs minister’s visit will provide an opportunity to review progress in several areas and discuss ways to further enhance bilateral cooperation,” the MEA said.

“The external affairs minister will visit Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City and is expected to hold talks with the Vietnamese leadership,” the MEA said in a statement.

He will also meet members of the Indian community and unveil a bust of Mahatma Gandhi in Ho Chi Minh city.

From Vietnam, Jaishankar will travel to Singapore for a visit from 19 to 20 October.