Vietnam and India boast a long-standing friendship. In the modern time, the foundation of their friendship was set up by the two preeminent leaders - President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru - when Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru paid a visit to Vietnam on October 17, 1954, right after Hanoi capital had been liberated, and President Ho Chi Minh made a friendship visit to India in February 1958.

Through ups and downs in history, the sound traditional friendship between Vietnam and India has always been nurtured, consolidated and developed to a new level by generations of the two countries’ leaders and people in the interests of both sides, and it has been developing well across all fields.

On the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the two countries’ diplomatic relations (January 7, 1972 - January 7, 2022) and five years since the establishment of their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (2016 - 2021), the Vietnam News Agency (VNA) has coordinated with the Indian Embassy in Vietnam and the Vietnam-India Friendship Association to organize a virtual photo exhibition on the theme “Vietnam - India: 50 years of cooperation”.

The display features 50 black-and-white and color archive photos of the VNA, the Indian Embassy in Vietnam and the Vietnam - India Friendship Association, which truthfully and vividly reflect the increasingly strong solidarity, friendship, and cooperation between the peoples of Vietnam and India.

The black-and-white photos of the VNA introduce to the public touching moments, from President Ho Chi Minh’s warm reception for Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru during the latter’s visit to Vietnam (on October 17, 1954) to the presence of both President Prasad and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru at the New Delhi airport to welcome President Ho Chi Minh, and the warm welcome by people in New Delhi for the Vietnamese leader during his India visit in February 1958, along with an image of Hanoians lining the street to welcome Indian President Prasad to Vietnam on March 22, 1959.

The color photos depict outstanding diplomatic activities, including mutual visits by high-ranking leaders of the two countries during the time Vietnam and India were carrying out comprehensive reforms; important milestones in bilateral relations such as the signing ceremony of the Joint Declaration on the Framework of Comprehensive Cooperation between Vietnam and India as they enter the 21st Century, and the elevation of bilateral relations to a Strategic Partnership and then to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; Indian President Ram Nath Kovind’s attendance in the sixth session of the 14th National Assembly of Vietnam; as well as activities in economic and defense cooperation, people-to-people diplomacy, and mutual support and assistance in the combat against the COVID-19 pandemic.

Amid the process of dynamic integration and with the huge potential of both countries, the mutual understanding and trust continue to serve as the firm foundation for promoting the strong, profound, comprehensive, and solid development of the Vietnam - India and India - Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership in the future, in the interests of the two peoples, thereby contributing to peace, stability, and prosperous development in Asia and the world at large./.