New Delhi, Dec 18 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold a virtual summit with his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc on Monday with a focus on future development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) made an announcement about the summit.

"The two leaders will exchange views on wide-ranging bilateral, regional and global issues and provide guidance for the future development of India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership," the MEA said in a statement.

India and Vietnam upgraded their relationship to the level of comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016 and the defence cooperation has been one of the most significant pillars of the fast-expanding bilateral ties.

The prime ministers had a telephone conversation on April 13 to discuss the situation arising out of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The 17th edition of the joint commission meeting co-chaired by the foreign ministers of the two countries was held on August 25 in virtual format, the MEA said.

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh held an online meeting with his Vietnamese counterpart on November 27.

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