At the event, the two sides exchanged notes on ways to further promote cooperation in key areas. In more details, specific measures should be devised to boost two-way trade value expected to reach USD 15 billion by 2020 as planned, reduce the imposition of trade defense measures on each side’s export products, and encourage opening of direct flight routes between large cities of the two countries.
India confirmed it would continue to support Vietnam in improving defense capacity, English training for military personnel, defense technology transfer and defense credit allocation. India also proposed the two sides to increase cooperation in cyber and maritime security and combat against terrorism, transnational crimes, human-trafficking, etc. Apart from that, “soft connections”, such as that in digital, information and telecommunications areas, were also proposed to be strengthened. The disbursement of the credit package worth USD 1 billion that India had committed earlier for ASEAN members would be accelerated.
Vietnam’s Deputy Foreign Minister Nguyen Quoc Dung and his Indian counterpart Preeti Saran co-chairing the ninth political consultation and the sixth dialogue between the two countries
Vietnam and India agreed that peace, stability, and navigation and aviation security, safety and freedom are the shared interests of all countries, both in the region and beyond. The two countries emphasized the principle of dealing with disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, including the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982.
On this occasion, the two ministries of foreign affairs agreed to enhance meetings, sharing experiences in dealing with issues related to territorial border and regional security, including maritime security.
* The same day, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh received Indian Deputy Foreign Minister Preeti Saran. Minh suggested the two countries fully and effectively implement the recently-signed “Action program for the 2017-2020 period” and invited Indian foreign minister to Vietnam to co-chair the 16th Vietnam-India Joint Committee Meeting in 2018. The meeting aims to realize the Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership.
India’s Deputy Foreign Minister Preeti Saran stressed that India always highly values cooperative relations with Vietnam and places the country at the center of its “Act East” policy. On that basis, India has carried out various projects, especially in training and capacity building in different areas, disbursement of credit packages, technical support, technology transfer, and more. It has also strengthened connection with Vietnam in particular and the Southeast Asian region in general.
Translated by Huu Duong