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.