The Vietnam-Nepal relationship is primarily centred on religion, education, people-to-people exchange, business, trade, and investment, Upadhyay said, noting people-to-people diplomacy forms the foundation of this relationship.
Professor Archana Upadhyay from the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India. (Photo:VNA)
New Delhi (VNA)♍ - Vietnam and Nepal hold vast potential to boost bilateral trade, according to Professor Archana Upadhyay from the School of International Studies at Jawaharlal Nehru University in New Delhi, India.
Speaking to the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of the 50th founding anniversary of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and Nepal (May 15, 1975 – 2025), Professor Upadhyay stated that over the past five decades, both countries have demonstrated the durability of their traditional friendship.
The bilateral relationship is primarily centred on religion, education, people-to-people exchange, business, trade, and investment, Upadhyay said, noting people-to-people diplomacy forms the foundation of this relationship.
According to the expert, while the Vietnamese community in Nepal is relatively small, it is steadily growing. Increasing numbers of Vietnamese are coming to Nepal for marriage, study, or out of interest in Buddhism, including for research or tourism purposes. Upadhyay said the formation of friendship associations is also a sign of how deeply rooted the relationship has become at the societal level.
Moreover, the legacy of President Ho Chi Minh continues to serve as a powerful source of inspiration not only in Nepal but throughout the Indian subcontinent, inspiring generations and further strengthening the bonds between the two countries.
Professor Upadhyay also stressed the important role of Vietnamese community in Nepal as it is recognised for supporting the local authorities and showing goodwill in contributing to Nepal’s development and fostering Vietnam – Nepal cooperation.
In her view, people-to-people relations and government-to-government ties between the two nations have been consistently reinforced over time. During times of crisis, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, earthquakes, and floods, Nepal has always received timely and enthusiastic support from Vietnam. This spirit of solidarity is also reflected in the two countries’ cooperation at international and multilateral forums.
According to Professor Upadhyay, within this long-standing friendship, Nepal has much to learn from Vietnam, which has become a model of economic development with an impressive growth trajectory. This presents an opportunity for both nations to enhance mutually complementary economic cooperation./.
Vietnamese Ambassador to India, Nepal and Bhutan Nguyen Thanh Hai said in recent years, the strong promotion of people-to-people exchange has truly served as a bonding force between the two countries, noting that the Vietnam – Nepal Friendship Association (VNFA), established in September 2014, has played an active role in this regard.
As people-to-people diplomacy is an important foundation in bilateral relations, Vietnam wants to strengthen people-to-people exchanges with Nepal, said Vice President of the Vietnam Union of Friendship Organisations (VUFO) Nguyen Ngoc Hung on May 20.
Vietnamese Ambassador to India, Nepal and Bhutan Nguyen Thanh Hai attended the 3rd Nepal Investment Summit on April 28-29 at the invitation of Nepali Finance Minister Barsha Man Pun.
General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Central Committee To Lam and his spouse Ngo Phuong Ly departed from Hanoi on August 10 morning for a four-day state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK), which is made at an invitation of RoK President Lee Jae Myung.
As part of the ASEAN Day celebrations, the Vietnamese embassy will also host the ASEAN Family Day 2025 in Ottawa to foster solidarity and community spirit among ASEAN members in Canada.
State President Luong Cuong’s trip once again reaffirmed the Party and State’s foreign policy of independence, self-reliance, diversification and multilateralisation of relations. It also reflected the strong trend of enhanced cooperation among countries of the Global South in shaping a new, more multipolar, fair and equitable world order.
The outcomes of Party General Secretary To Lam's visit will serve as a driving force and source of inspiration for the two countries to inherit, promote, and elevate their Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, contributing to the national construction and development cause in each country, and to peace, cooperation, and development in the region and the world.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 9 inspected the construction site of the new Phong Chau bridge, and surveyed a planned route for the Lao Cai – Hanoi – Hai Phong railway section running through the northern province of Phu Tho.
Across print, broadcast, and online platforms, Angolan media portrayed State President Luong Cuong's visit as a warm and historic occasion, strengthening bilateral ties and boosting Vietnam’s presence in Africa through the AU.
The 500kV Lao Cai – Vinh Yen power transmission line has a total investment of over 7.41 trillion VND (282.5 million USD), and a total length of 229.5 km, passing through 31 communes in the two provinces, and comprising 468 transmission tower foundations.
The visits reflected the elevated position of Vietnam’s foreign policy in the new era—aimed at not only advancing ties with key regional partners like Egypt and Angola but also delivering a strategic message about Vietnam’s commitment to deepening relations with African nations as a whole.
At their talks and meetings, President Cuong and Angola’s top leaders affirmed that the close brotherhood and traditional friendship are a valuable shared asset and a solid foundation for the two nations to advance into a new phase of development.
The ruling People’s Movement for the Liberation of Angola (MPLA) attaches great importance to the friendship, solidarity, and comradeship with the Communist Party of Vietnam, and voiced her Party’s wish to further deepen and expand relations between the two sides for the benefit of the Vietnamese and Angolan people.
Vietnam pledges to do its utmost to build an ASEAN of solidarity, consensus, and unity in diversity, and to foster a fast and sustainable development path for ASEAN, grounded in science, technology, and innovation, said Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh.
Party General Secretary To Lam called on the criminal police force to accelerate the application of science, technology, artificial intelligence, and digital transformation in criminal investigation tasks such as crime prevention, detection, tracking and verification, ensuring that no area remains out of their reach.
Many Koreans living, studying, and working in Hanoi see the upcoming state visit to the Republic of Korea (RoK) by Party General Secretary To Lam as an opportunity to generate strong synergy in economic cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and cultural understanding.
The achievements of the five decades of Vietnam–Angola cooperation provide a strong and enduring foundation, as well as momentum for the two sides to consolidate, expand, and bring their partnership into a new phase of development.
Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh stressed that the emulation and commendation work is a vital driver, fostering patriotism, dedication, and collective momentum in the run-up to the 11th National Patriotic Emulation Congress, Party congresses at all levels, and the 14th National Party Congress.
Emphasising the need for sustainable, long-term collaboration, National Assembly Chairman Tran Thanh Man called on Japanese investors not only to bring in capital but also to share expertise and modern technology, especially in areas such as green transformation, the circular economy, and advanced corporate governance.
President Luong Cuong's activities during his state visit to Angola, the celebration of the financial sector's 80th traditional day, and the Foreign Ministry's flag-hoisting ceremony marking the 58th founding anniversary of ASEAN are among news highlights on August 8.
Vietnamese Ambassador to Thailand Pham Viet Hung praised the Thai Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ meaningful initiative, noting that the ASEAN Family Run was not only a sporting activity but also an opportunity for diplomats and their families to show unity, connection, and solidarity within the ASEAN family.
Politburo member, Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh on August 8 attended the first congress of the Party Organisation of Tay Ho ward of Hanoi for the 2025–2030 term, during which he called for fresh momentum to turn the ward into a model that takes the lead in all fields.
The size of the economy increased from over 5 billion USD in 1986 to over 476 billion USD by 2024, making Vietnam the fourth-largest economy in Southeast Asia and the 34th largest in the world.
