(Updating with Modi’s tweet)

Modi arrives in Vietnam; to discuss ways to boost defence From Jaishree Balasubhramanian Hanoi, Sep 2 (PTI) Prime Minister Narendra Modi todayflew into the Vietnamese capital on his maiden visit to holdwide-ranging talks with the country’s top leadership on waysto bolster strategic bilateral ties in key areas like defence,security, counterterrorism and trade. "Reached Hanoi. This is a special visit & will go a longway in deepening the strong bond between India & Vietnam,"Modi tweeted. The visit, that marks the first by an Indian premier tothe country in 15 years, takes place on his way to Hangzhou,China to attend the G20 Summit beginning Sunday. Modi will hold extensive talks with Vietnamese PrimeMinister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and call on President Tran Dai Quangtomorrow. He is also scheduled to meet Communist Party GeneralSecretary Nguyen Phu Trong and National Assembly ChairwomanNguyen Thi Kim Ngan. Defence, security, science and technology, trade andculture are some of the issues on the plate for the talks. The premier will also pay homage to revered leader Ho ChiMinh, whom he described in his Facebook post as one of 20thcentury’s tallest leaders. He will lay a wreath at theMonument of National Heroes and Martyrs as well as visit theQuan Su Pagoda. Ho Chi Minh, who is often called "the Vietnamese GeorgeWashington" by Communist Vietnamese, has a city named afterhim. After his death, Ho’s followers embalmed his body and putit in a tomb, the mausoleum, where he is still worshippedtoday. "Vietnamese Prime Minister Phuc and I would also bediscussing regional cooperation and stability and ourmultilateral cooperation," Modi told Voice of Vietnam Radionetwork earlier. The thrust of our multifaceted relationship is to worktowards stability, maintenance of peace, economic growth andprosperity in our countries, Asia and beyond, he added. Modi emphasised that India’s Act East Policy aimed toforge partnerships with its eastern neighbours to encompasssecurity, strategic, political, counter-terrorism, and defencecollaboration in addition to economic ties. "It was crystallised to underscore the importance of EastAsian neighbours of India and to make them a priority in ourforeign policy engagement," he told the radio, adding thatVietnam was an integral member of ASEAN and is a "veryimportant pillar in our Act East Policy". "We wish to forge a strong economic relationship withVietnam that can mutually benefit our citizens. Strengtheningthe people to people ties will also be my endeavour during theVietnam visit," the premier said on his Facebook page today. India’s ONGC Videsh Limited is engaged in oil explorationprojects in Vietnam for over three decades and there may beannouncements about new projects in the sector during thebilateral visit, which is taking place after a gap of 15years. PTI JB SAI AKJSAI