President Pranab Mukherjee arrived here on Sunday for a four-day state visit during which India and Vietnam are expected to sign agreements on oil exploration and air connectivity. The President will also visit the historic city of Ho Chi Minh. The visit marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic ties between the two nations.

Mr. Mukherjee was received at the Noi Bai International Airport by the Vietnamese Vice Minister for Foreign Affairs and Chairman of President’s Office Dao Viet Trung and was given a guard of honour.

On Monday, Mr. Mukherjee is scheduled to meet President Truong Tan Sang and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. Ahead of his visit, Mr. Mukherjee said that the key areas of cooperation between the two countries are security and defence.

Key agreements between ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL) and Petro Vietnam for joint oil explorations in the South China Sea blocks are expected to be signed during the visit. Oil Minister Dharmendra Pradhan is part of the delegation accompanying the President.

The President’s visit assumes particular significance, as it closely precedes Chinese President Xi Jinping’s Indian visit that starts on September 17. India’s oil exploration in Vietnam has been a point of contention with China and safeguarding the country’s interest amid the Pacific conflicts remains a key strategic challenge for India.

Mr. Mukherjee has brought from India a sapling of the holy ‘bodhi tree’ as a gift.