Consulate General of India

Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam

Remarks by Dr. Madan Mohan Sethi, Consul General of India at the National Day Reception to commemorate the 72nd Republic Day of India
(272 Convention Centre, Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, 26th January, 2021)

• Distinguished guests from the Vietnamese Government from Ho Chi Minh City and other provinces;
• Members of Union of Friendship Organizations, cultural and academic institutions;
• Esteemed Consuls General and colleagues from the consular corps in Ho Chi Minh City;
• Members from educational institutions;
• Friends from business associations, industries and companies;
• Distinguished members of the Indian community;
• Representatives of the media;
• Ladies and gentlemen,

Xin Chao and Namaste!

It gives me immense pleasure to welcome you at this Reception to commemorate the 72nd Republic Day of India. First, let me wish everyone a happy, healthy and prosperous year ahead. I wish the year of the Buffallo will bring wealth and prosperity for the entire world. 

2.  The Republic day is celebrated to honour the date on which the Constitution of India officially came into effect i.e.  26th January, 1950. The Constitution, which defined the Indian State as a ‘Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic, Republic’, has been, since 1950, successfully guiding the path and progress of our nation, despite the social, economic and political challenges confronting a country of our size, diversity and complexity.

3.  Since independence, India has made remarkable progress in ensuring economic and social well-being of its people. We are among the top 6 economies in the world. Keeping Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision for making India a five trillion-dollar economy by 2025, some bold economic reforms have been implemented by the Indian Government in the recent years. This transformation to a New India is not limited to just economic growth and includes good governance, people’s empowerment, particularly through use of technology and participation, and an inclusive and sustainable development model.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
4.  The year 2020 was an unprecedented one.  A year that was marked with uncertainty and anxiousness. A year that taught us many new things.  Work from home, isolation, virtual meetings became the new normal.  While the whole world is still grappling with the Covid-19 pandemic, Vietnam is one of the few countries that have managed to control the pandemic with its timely intervention and strict measures.  India has also managed to control the crisis to a large extent. 

5.  As you may be aware, India has started one of the world´s largest Covid-19 vaccination drive and has already vaccinated more than 1.6 million frontline healthcare workers within 9 days of its launch.  In keeping with India’s stated commitment to use India’s vaccine production and delivery capacity to help all of humanity fight the Covid pandemic, India under its ´Vaccine Maitri´ or ´Vaccine Friendship´, has started supplying vaccinations to friendly countries  both near and far, reflecting the depth of our goodwill! The latest countries to receive ´Made in India´ vaccines are Myanmar, Mauritius, Seychelles, Brazil, Morocco, Nepal, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Maldives. 

Ladies and Gentleman,
6.  India and Vietnam share a strong historical and civilisational contact since ancient and medieval times which has been further strengthened by our great leaders and strong partnership cooperation in different sectors. Vietnam is a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy and an important partner in India’s Indo-Pacific Vision. Both countries have also similar stands on most of the international issues. The number of visits at highest level and official level in recent years show the strong relationship between both the countries. Recently, on 21st December, our two Prime Ministers held a virtual summit and agreed to expand areas of cooperation. Our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership today spans across a wide-range of collaboration – covering political engagement, economic and development partnership, defence and security cooperation, energy cooperation, cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts.
7.  Bilateral trade between India and Vietnam reached 12.3 billion USD in year 2019 and both sides have now committed to take the trade to 15 billion USD at the earliest. The Covid crisis has disrupted the global supply chain and I think this is the right time for the manufacturers of both countries to join hands and set up alternate global supply chain for world consumers. On its part, the Consulate, in the last five months has organized multiple webinars on trade and investment in different sectors with the support of the local trade associations and provinces in an effort to boost trade and investment between the two countries. We also plan to link exporters from Vietnam to importers of India and provinces of Vietnam to states of India.  We hope to maintain the momentum and organize physical meetings in coming days once the pandemic is controlled and international travel is resumed.

Ladies and Gentlemen:

9.  As you all are aware, this is my first National Day Reception in HCMC. On this occasion, I would like to thank everyone for the support that they have extended to me and to the Consulate in our activities in the past five months. In the year ahead, we will continue to seek greater synergy in our collaborative efforts to promote our multifaceted engagement with Vietnam, in order to realize the true potential.  I am confident that with our joint efforts, in the coming years, the close bonds of friendship between the people of India and Vietnam will become even stronger and our bilateral relations will touch newer heights. 

• Let me thank you all for joining us today in celebrating the 72nd  Republic Day of India.  I now invite Her Excellency H.E. Mme. Phan Th? Th?ng, Vice Chairperson, People’s Committee to the stage to join me in a toast:-    
• To the good health and success of the leadership of both countries
• To the prosperity and happiness of the peoples of India and Vietnam
• To the good health and success of all the distinguished guests gathered here today.

Thank you