The seminar marked the 54th anniversary of both nations’ diplomatic relations and 10 years since the two countries upgraded ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, while also looking ahead to the AI Impact Summit to be held in India. More than 100 participants, including leaders, policymakers, experts and scholars from both countries attended the event.

Opening the seminar, Associate Professor Dr. Le Hai Binh, member of the Party Central Committee and Deputy Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics, said the Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership has continued to develop and deepen, particularly in digital transformation, a key domain of the current era.

He described digital transformation as having moved beyond technological upgrading to become a strategic pillar of national development capacity, shaping growth models, state governance, competitiveness and international standing.

Experience shows that countries able to master data infrastructure, digital platforms and digital governance frameworks are better positioned to strengthen strategic autonomy, improve resilience to global shocks and secure long-term advantages in global value chains.

For Vietnam and India,two dynamic developing countries with large populations, open markets and strong development aspirations-digital transformation is not merely an option but an inevitable path toward achieving long-term development goals, he said.

In India’s ambition to become a US$5 trillion economy and Vietnam’s goal of attaining developed, high-income status by 2045, digital transformation has been identified as a central growth driver and a foundation for sustainable development.

Also addressing the seminar, Indian Deputy Minister of External Affairs Periasamy Kumaran congratulated Vietnam on the successful conclusion of the 14th National Party Congress and expressed confidence that the country will continue to make progress in realizing its development agenda and meeting its 2045 objectives. He said India stands ready to work hand in hand with Vietnam in this process.

The Indian diplomat said the world is entering a period of profound change shaped by three major transitions-digital, industrial and energy-where policy choices on technology will have direct implications for national security, economic adaptability and international standing.

He welcomed growing cooperation between Vietnam and India in sharing experience and technology for digital transformation and called on both sides to make full use of the 10th anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to boost more substantive cooperation.

Discussions at the seminar focused on three priority areas: strengthening institutional and legal frameworks for digital transformation; expanding cooperation in core technology transfer, digital infrastructure, e-government and smart cities; and developing innovation and start-up ecosystems while enhancing links among governments, businesses and academic circles in the two countries.

The seminar was seen as making a practical contribution to consolidating the Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and supporting sustainable development cooperation in the digital era.

Hanoi Convention: Protecting human rights, citizens’ rights in digital era

Protecting human rights and citizens’ rights in cyberspace is a vital foundation for building a safe, inclusive and people-centred digital future, heard at a high-level discussion held on October 25 in Hanoi.