India’s Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu is welcomed at the Noi  Bai International Airport in Hanoi (Photo: VNA)

Naidu kicked off a four-day official visit to Vietnam by addressing the local Indian community soon after his arrival in Hanoi on Thursday. Describing ties between India and Vietnam as ‘civilizational’ and historic, Naidu said their partnership has stood the test of time. 

Pointing out that agricultural growth has been a key driver of the remarkable progress achieved by Vietnam, he said India is privileged as a development partner to have contributed to Vietnam’s agricultural revolution and food security.
Expressing his satisfaction with the doubling of two-way trade from 7.8 billion USD in 2016 to nearly 14 billion USD last year, he said the two nations must come together with pride and purpose and help each other grow and prosper.
Vice President Naidu will participate in UN Day of Vesak 2019 at Tam Chuc pagoda in Vietnam’s Ha Nam province and deliver a keynote address.