Ministry of Tribal Affairs
India–Vietnam Ministerial Meeting Deepens Cooperation in Tribal and Ethnic Development
Shri Jual Oram and Vietnam’s Minister Dao Ngoc Dung Co-Chair Ministerial Dialogue to Deepen Tribal Affairs Collaboration
India and Vietnam Advance Institutional Partnership for Inclusive Development of Tribal and Ethnic Communities
Posted On: 18 MAR 2026 8:26PM by PIB Delhi
Building upon the constructive discussions held at the official level on 17 March 2026, a high-level bilateral meeting between the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India, and the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam, was convened today in New Delhi, further advancing cooperation in the field of tribal and ethnic development.
The Ministerial meeting was co-chaired by Hon’ble Union Minister for Tribal Affairs, Shri Jual Oram, and Hon’ble Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs of Vietnam, H.E. Dao Ngoc Dung, marking a significant step in elevating the ongoing bilateral engagement to the leadership level.
The discussions built upon the outcomes of the earlier meeting between senior officials, led by Smt. Ranjana Chopra, Secretary, Ministry of Tribal Affairs, and H.E. Y Thong, Deputy Minister of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, Vietnam, where both sides exchanged perspectives on policy frameworks, development strategies, and best practices concerning tribal and ethnic communities, thereby laying a strong foundation for enhanced institutional collaboration.
At the outset of today’s meeting, the Ministers exchanged commemorative mementos as a gesture of goodwill, symbolising the enduring friendship between India and Vietnam.
Welcoming the delegation, Hon’ble Minister Shri Jual Oram highlighted Vietnam as a key partner under India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision and appreciated the participation of the Vietnamese delegation in Bharat Tribes Fest 2026. He underscored the deep historical and cultural ties between the two countries, rooted in shared civilizational values and spiritual traditions inspired by the teachings of Lord Buddha.
The discussions were guided by the vision of Hon’ble Prime Minister, which emphasizes strengthened global cooperation, deeper cultural exchange, and the preservation of heritage through meaningful global partnerships.
Recalling the recent exposition of the Sacred Relics of Lord Buddha from Sarnath in Vietnam, the Minister noted the overwhelming public response, with millions of devotees paying homage -reflecting the strong cultural connect between the peoples of the two nations.
Both sides noted that the year marks the tenth anniversary of the India–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and emphasized the importance of commemorating this milestone through sustained institutional engagement, cultural exchanges, and deeper people-to-people linkages.
The Vietnamese delegation expressed appreciation for India’s continued support across various phases of Vietnam’s development and highlighted its commitment to inclusive growth for its 54 ethnic groups through targeted interventions in infrastructure, livelihoods, education, healthcare, and cultural preservation.
Discussions also covered opportunities for collaboration in key areas such as livelihood promotion, value addition to forest-based products, sustainable agriculture, skill development, research partnerships, and cultural documentation. Both sides recognized the importance of sharing best practices and leveraging similarities in socio-cultural contexts to strengthen outcomes for tribal and ethnic communities.
The two sides reviewed the draft Memorandum of Cooperation aimed at institutionalizing collaboration between the Ministries. The Vietnamese side informed that the draft has been approved and expressed hope for its early finalization. An invitation was extended to Hon’ble Minister Shri Jual Oram to visit Vietnam for the formal signing of the agreement.
Responding positively, the Hon’ble Minister reaffirmed India’s commitment to further deepening cooperation and noted that mutual trust and regular high-level engagements remain the cornerstone of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
The meeting concluded on a cordial and forward-looking note with both sides expressing confidence that strengthened collaboration will contribute to inclusive and sustainable development outcomes for tribal and ethnic communities in both countries.
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