India’s Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City, Vipra Pandey, expressed hopes of strengthening cooperation with media organizations like Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper to enhance bilateral ties during his visit to the newspaper’s headquarters on Friday.

Tuoi Tre Editor-in-Chief Le The Chu welcomed Pandey during the meeting.

Pandey noted that the relationship between Vietnam and India has been developing positively, especially since the two countries upgraded their bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016. 

However, he acknowledged that some areas of cooperation still do not fully reflect their potential.

He emphasized that now is an opportune time to boost relations, particularly in trade. 

This year, India is focusing on strengthening cooperation with 24 countries, including Vietnam. 

Many Indian businesses are showing keen interest in Vietnam, and several delegations have already visited or are planning to visit the country to explore opportunities.

Pandey highlighted the favorable conditions for enhanced ties, citing stronger air connectivity with direct flights between Vietnam and India, and growing trade and cultural connections between the two nations.

Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper's Editor-in-Chief Le The Chu (L, 2nd) hosts a reception for India’s Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Vipra Pandey (R, 2nd) at the newspaper's headquarters in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, March 28, 2025. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre

Last year, Vietnam welcomed over 500,000 Indian tourists, reflecting strong interest from India in visiting the Southeast Asian country. 

In contrast, the number of Vietnamese tourists visiting India remains modest, around 50,000.

Chu suggested that this disparity is the result of a limited understanding of India among many Vietnamese people when choosing overseas destinations.

Pandey also noted that educational cooperation between the two countries has not yet reached its potential. 

He pointed out that only a small number of Vietnamese students study in India, despite India’s strengths in the education sector.

India’s Consul General in Ho Chi Minh City Vipra Pandey (R) speaks at Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper's headquarters in Phu Nhuan District, Ho Chi Minh City, March 28, 2025. Photo: Huu Hanh / Tuoi Tre

In response, Chu discussed India’s strengths in areas such as digital transformation, healthcare, and renewable energy -- fields of significant interest to Vietnamese youth. 

He suggested that the annual Tuoi Tre Education and Career Counseling Day, which attracts numerous universities and tens of thousands of students, could be a platform to connect Indian universities with Vietnamese youth.

Both Pandey and Chu agreed that people-to-people connections are crucial for enhancing bilateral cooperation.

Pandey expressed his desire to collaborate with media organizations like Tuoi Tre to further promote this positive relationship, while Chu reiterated the newspaper’s readiness to support initiatives that foster greater people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.

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