**Executive Summary**
On 18 March 2026, the Ministry of Tribal Affairs (India) and the Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs (Vietnam) held a high-level ministerial meeting in New Delhi to deepen cooperation in tribal and ethnic development. The dialogue focused on advancing an institutional partnership and inclusive development strategies to mark the tenth anniversary of the India–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Key upcoming actions include the finalization and formal signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) during a reciprocal visit to Vietnam by the Indian Minister.
**Key Points / Main Content**
**Institutional Cooperation**
* Elevation of bilateral engagement to the leadership level following preliminary official-level discussions held on 17 March 2026.
* Review of a draft Memorandum of Cooperation (MoC) designed to institutionalize collaboration between the two ministries.
* The Vietnamese side confirmed approval of the draft MoC, with both parties seeking its early finalization.
**Strategic and Cultural Alignment**
* Reinforcement of Vietnam’s role as a key partner under India’s Act East Policy and Indo-Pacific vision.
* Emphasis on shared civilizational values, historical ties, and spiritual traditions, specifically those inspired by the teachings of Lord Buddha.
* Recognition of the tenth anniversary of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership as a milestone for deeper institutional and people-to-people linkages.
**Development and Research Areas**
* Exchange of best practices regarding policy frameworks and development strategies for tribal and ethnic communities.
* Focus on inclusive growth interventions, including infrastructure, livelihoods, education, and healthcare.
* Identification of specific collaborative areas: livelihood promotion, value addition to forest-based products, sustainable agriculture, and skill development.
* Commitment to joint research partnerships and cultural documentation.
**Impact Analysis**
**Ministry of Tribal Affairs (India) and Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs (Vietnam)**
**Impact**
The ministries are transitioning from informal dialogue to a formal, institutionalized partnership. This shift necessitates a higher level of administrative coordination and policy exchange to implement shared development goals.
**Action Required**
Officials must complete the finalization of the Memorandum of Cooperation. The Indian Minister is expected to visit Vietnam for the formal signing ceremony.
**Tribal and Ethnic Communities in India and Vietnam**
**Impact**
These communities stand to benefit from enhanced sustainable development outcomes, improved livelihoods, and better-targeted interventions in education and healthcare through the sharing of international best practices.
**Action Required**
No direct action is required from the communities at this stage; however, they will be the subjects of future targeted infrastructure and cultural preservation projects.
**Senior Government Officials and Researchers**
**Impact**
Officials and researchers will be tasked with executing the technical aspects of the partnership, including research collaborations and the documentation of socio-cultural contexts.
**Action Required**
Technical teams must establish frameworks for sharing best practices and initiate joint documentation and research projects as outlined in the ministerial discussions.
Key Entities Referenced
Ministry of Tribal Affairs: The Indian government body leading high-level bilateral engagement and institutional partnership for tribal development with Vietnam.
Ministry of Ethnic and Religious Affairs, Vietnam: The Vietnamese government entity collaborating with India on inclusive growth strategies and policy frameworks for ethnic communities.
India–Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership: The overarching bilateral framework guiding the 10-year milestone of institutional engagement, cultural exchanges, and strategic cooperation.
Memorandum of Cooperation: A draft agreement aimed at institutionalizing collaboration between the two ministries in areas such as livelihood promotion, forest-based products, and sustainable agriculture.
Act East Policy: India's strategic framework under which Vietnam is recognized as a key partner for regional cooperation and Indo-Pacific development.
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.******
RN/
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