Vietnamese, Indian analysts explore Geneva agreement

Vietnamese and Indian experts and diplomats highlighted the significance of the Geneva agreement on ceasefire in Vietnam during a conference on July 24 in New Delhi to mark the 60^th anniversary of the signing of the document (July 20, 1954-2014).

Speaking at the event, which was jointly organised by the Vietnamese Embassy in India and the India Institute for Defence Studies and Analysis (IDSA), Ambassador Nguyen Thanh Tan stated that the agreement was a great and important victory of the then Democratic Republic of Vietnam.

It was the first time France and the countries participating in the Geneva peace conference had committed to respecting the independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity of Vietnam, he reiterated.

The agreement was of legal significance and created a firm foundation for the continuance of Vietnamese people’s struggle for national liberation, he said, emphasising that it was a victory of Vietnamese people’s patriotism, featuring their desire for freedom, independence and love for peace, as well as a success of the country’s young diplomacy.

After 30 years of reform under the leadership of the Communist Party of Vietnam, the country has recorded a number of achievements, including maintaining political and socio-economic stability, reducing poverty, improving people’s living conditions and expanding external relations, he said.

Vietnam has also been an active member of many international organisations, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation forum (APEC), the Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) and the United Nations, he noted.

Vietnamese people, having experienced fierce wars, value peace more than anyone else, but also understand that peace must be coupled by independence, sovereignty, unification and territorial integrity, he stated.

The ambassador also praised the role that India played in the maintenance of peace in Indochina as well as in the international committee in charge of supervising the Geneva agreement.

In recent years, the strategic partnership between the two countries has been growing for mutual benefits and for the sake of peace and solidarity in the region and the world, he said.

Indian Deputy Foreign Minister Anil Wadhwa noted that over the past 40 years, the expanded historical and strategic partnership between the two countries have paved the way for the acceleration of economic and culture cooperation.

As geopolitical changes in the region have created both opportunities and challenges, both Vietnam and India should work closely together to overcome risks that threaten their common interests, he said.

Vietnam should believe that India is her friend “in all circumstances”, he stressed.