General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong of the Communist Party of Vietnam (CPV) is recognized in India as a friend who has been instrumental in developing the friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries. 

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and India's President Ram Nath Kovind in Hanoi in 2018. Photo: Lao Dong

Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Sandeep Arya made the comments following the passing of the CPV’s chief, The Hanoi Times reported.

The general secretary paid an official visit to India about 10 years ago. As party leader, he received several Indian leaders on their visits to Vietnam, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2016, when the two countries elevated the relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.

He has also hosted Indian presidents and other leaders, most recently the Speaker of the Indian parliament, Lok Sabha Om Birla, in April 2022.

On the 50th anniversary of diplomatic relations between India and Vietnam, General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong had a telephone conversation with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to review the relationship and reaffirm their commitment to strengthening it.

General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong has been very directly and personally involved in the development of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, and India values his role. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his condolence message, also highlighted the General Secretary’s contributions to India-Vietnam relations. Meanwhile, the Indian leadership expressed its strong solidarity with the people and the leadership of Vietnam in this hour of grief. 

Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Sandeep Arya. Photo: Embassy of India in Hanoi

Regarding Nguyen Phu Trong’s contributions to Vietnam’s socio-economic development, Ambassador Sandeep Arya’s deepest impression of him is that he is a very thoughtful and systematic person with a well-planned path for Vietnam’s growth, national progress, prosperity, and development.

Those things have been reflected in his books, which contain a collection of his thoughts on various subjects. “I think he had a vision for the overall governance of the country, for economic development, agriculture, industry, workers, international relations, and the culture and identity of Vietnamese people,” Ambassador Arya emphasized.

He said that Trong’s overall stewardship of Vietnam’s growth and progress is deeply impressive and that this has been a window for him to understand Vietnam and his vision for the nation. “I feel that he has been a very strong driving force for Vietnam’s achievements over the last few decades.”

The ambassador believed that the vision of Vietnam’s path that he has laid out will continue in the international arena and the country’s future growth and progress.

Commenting on how Nguyen Phu Trong exercises President Ho Chi Minh’s moral and ideological practices. Ambassador Arya said some of Trong’s speeches and expressions of the progress of Vietnam drew inspiration and ideas from President Ho Chi Minh at that time. “He has quoted President Ho Chi Minh, he has related to President Ho Chi Minh’s ideas, which are very well laid out in so many of those speeches.”

In a way, it is a continuing process of evolution of thinking because Vietnam, over a period of time, has gone through a strong journey of development and growth and progress.

According to the Ambassador, Nguyen Phu Trong often quoted President Ho Chi Minh when he mentioned bamboo diplomacy and the president’s vision of national growth, solidarity, national defense, and national movement. And at the same time, he adapted it to a changing world and the changing needs of the country. It is very carefully calibrated, very well crafted, and has left a deep impression on him.

For that reason, the Ambassador believed that it was very visible that Vietnam was on a very strong and steady path of progress and development.

Indian lawmakers pay respects to General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong at their session. Photo: Sansad TV

In the latest move, the Indian parliament (Lok Sabha & Rajya Sabha) observed a minute's silence as a mark of respect for General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong before its monsoon session on July 22.