Vice-Chairman of the Ho Chi Minh City People’s Committee, Mr. Duong Anh Duc,
Ambassador,
Consul General,
Dear Friends,

I am delighted to be in Ho Chi Minh City, on what is my first ever visit to this city, and it’s really very good to see all of you this morning.

Today is a really big day for our relationship, and the installation of the bust of Mahatma Gandhi, its unveiling, is a very symbolic moment of our friendship. And I would like to express my gratitude to the authorities of Vietnam and especially of Ho Chi Minh City for facilitating today’s ceremony.

Mahatma Gandhi, is without question, one of the most iconic figures of our contemporary world. His contributions to truth, to non-violence, to the independence and freedom of people have been recognized by the UN by proclaiming his birthday, 2 October, as the International Day of Non-Violence.

He not only unified India behind our struggle for independence but actually inspired other nations, other continents, other people in a similar quest.

The contributions of Mahatma Gandhi extend beyond this and his thoughts and works today are a very powerful inspiration for human dignity, societal values, spirituality, environment, sustainability, cleanliness and many other areas.

His thoughts continue to have a very deep influence in India of course but across the world. And we see that, whether it is in the Swachh Bharat, Clean India Campaign of Prime Minister Narendra Modi or our endeavor to close the gender divide and give women their due place in our society. And the installation of this memorial today is of enormous significance therefore not just for India, not just for Vietnam but as a universal message.

The relevance of Mahatma Gandhi is also very great in a world that we see today beset by conflict and violence. So as we strive to harmonize contradictions, to bridge divides, Mahatma Gandhi serves not just as a political inspiration but even as a motivator of diplomacy.

It is significant that two great personalities of the last century, Mahatma Gandhi and President Ho Chi Minh, exchanged messages during their lifetime.

During his visit to India in 1958, President Ho Chi Minh was quoted to the media as saying that, I and others may be revolutionaries but directly or indirectly we are disciples of Mahatma Gandhi, nothing more, nothing less.

So it is very fitting that last year we had the inauguration of a bust of President Ho Chi Minh in New Delhi, during the visit of the Party Secretary of Ho Chi Minh City, Mr. Nguyen Van Nen.

Today that very connect resonates in the relationship of friendship and cooperation between India and Vietnam. It reflects the essence of our partnership which is rooted in mutual respect and shared aspirations for a better world.

President Ho Chi Minh laid the foundation of the abiding friendship between India and Vietnam but this relationship has since flourished over many administrations and during the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Vietnam in 2016, a visit which I had the honor to accompany him, it was designated as a comprehensive strategic partnership.

It is today a relationship which covers political exchanges, economic cooperation, trade and investment, defense and security, development cooperation, culture and people to people connections.

Yesterday I had extensive discussions with the leadership of Vietnam in Hanoi on strengthening and enhancing our partnership.

And we agreed that the long tradition of friendship that I have spoken about and the deep political trust which has been built up over the years, these are today our most valuable capital as we go forward.

Today we are all here to remember a great personality but one who is universal in his significance and for all of us in India, Mahatma Gandhi is very much a symbol of international cooperation of our deep connect with people across the world. And it is very fitting today that the installation of his statue in Ho Chi Minh city is reaffirmation of the strong people to people connect that we have, a connect that is expressed from yoga and culture to arts and to Buddhism.

I once again thank the Ho Chi Minh city authorities for their support to these people to people ties as well as for making all the arrangements for the bust of Mahatma Gandhi to be installed here.

Thank you very much. Xin Cam On.