THE Communist Party of India (Marxist) had an online bilateral meeting with the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) on June 29, 2022. The CPI(M) delegation was led by Sitaram Yechury, general secretary and consisted of Nilotpal Basu, Polit Bureau member and R Arun Kumar, Central Committee member. The CPV delegation was led by Vo Van Thuong, Polit Bureau member, and standing member of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee’s (CPVCC) secretariat. The delegation consisted of Le Hoai Trung, chairman of CPVCC’s Commission of External Relations, Bui Van Thach, deputy head of the CPVCC’s office, Nguyen Minh Vu, assistant minister of foreign affairs and Nguyen Phuong Nga, chairman of the Vietnam Union for Friendship Organisations (VUFO) and Pham Sanh Chau, ambassador of Vietnam to India.

The delegations exchanged their respective views about the current international and regional situation and identified the growing threat to peace and stability. The war in Ukraine and its impact on people was discussed and both the parties called for an immediate end to the war.

Sitaram Yechury in his remarks explained the conclusions arrived at by the recently concluded 23rd Party Congress of the CPI(M). He mentioned about the growing intervention of US-led imperialist forces in Asia-Pacific region and the formation of various alliances and groupings like the AUKUS and Quad. The eastwards expansion of NATO with an intention to surround and threaten Russia is the main reason for the flaring up of tensions in the region, that ultimately led to the present war. In this context of the growing threats to world peace, he stated that it is the responsibility of people all over the world to raise their voices against imperialism, right-wing authoritarianism and attack on democratic rights that are directly responsible for the present sorry state of affairs.

Yechury lauded the role of the CPV and the government of Vietnam for effectively taking steps to contain the Covid pandemic in their country. He also commended the growing ties of friendship between both India and Vietnam.

Vo Van Thuong detailed the present situation in Vietnam and how the CPV and the government had contained the pandemic. He also spoke about how the government is taking steps to put the country back on the track of economic development. Thuong also mentioned the difficulties arising from the war in Ukraine and also the growing tensions in the Asia-Pacific region. In spite of the strong headwinds blowing throughout the world, he expressed confidence that the CPV, with the support of the people of Vietnam would achieve the targets set by the 13th Congress of the CPV (2021) and march ahead. He gave the example of the 5.5-6.5 per cent growth in GDP that they are expecting for this financial year.

Thuong thanked the CPI(M) and the people of India for their support to Vietnam. Though it is 50 years since both the countries established their diplomatic relations, strong bonds of friendship between the people existed from many more years.

Both the parties agreed to further strengthen the fraternal relations between them, contribute to the well being of people of both the countries and for socio-economic development.