Viet Nam is an important pillar in India's foreign policy, especially its Act East policy, said Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Modi made the above statement during his phone conversation with Vietnamese Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong on Friday.

Party leader Trong briefed the Indian Prime Minister about Viet Nam's socio-economic development targets and foreign policy adopted at the 13^th National Party Congress, affirming that Viet Nam attaches importance to strengthening the comprehensive strategic partnership with India both bilaterally and multilaterally.

As the two countries mark the 50^th founding anniversary of their diplomatic ties, the two leaders expressed their pleasure at the robust and effective advancement of the bilateral ties in recent past and highly valued bilateral cooperation and mutual support in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic.

The leaders agreed to foster political trust and high-level contacts through the party, Government, National Assembly channels and people-to-people exchanges.

They agreed to task competent agencies to further collaborate in the implementation of programs and measures to step up cooperation in major domains, including trade and investment in favor of post-pandemic recovery.

Both sides will continue accelerating cooperation in defense and security, tourism, and culture as well as close coordination at multilateral forums for the sake of the two countries, thus contributing to peace, stability, development and prosperity in Asia and the world at large.

Comparing notes on regional and international issues of shared concerns, the two leaders underlined the necessity of maintaining peace, stability, development and observance of international law, including the 1982 UN Convention on the Law of the Sea, and respecting sovereignty and sovereign rights of countries, and the freedom of navigation and aviation.

On the situation in Ukraine, the two sides reaffirmed the importance of abiding by international law and avoiding the use or threat of force.

Both countries shared the wish that the parties concerned would foster dialogues and negotiations to end the war and restore peace on the basis of respecting the legitimate interests of each other while ensuring safety for civilians and addressing humanitarian issues.

Nguyen took the occasion to invite Prime Minister Modi to visit Viet Nam at an appropriate time and the latter accepted the invitation with pleasure./.

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