Visit to contribute to promoting Vietnam – India comprehensive strategic partnership

PANO – The visit of Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh to Vietnam will contribute to promoting the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries in general and the two ministries in particular for peace, stability and development in each country, in the region and the world.

Defense cooperation substantially contributes to Vietnam-India ties: State leader

Vietnam important pillar in India's Act East Policy

Vietnam, India boost comprehensive strategic partnership

Vietnamese Defense Minister General Phan Van Giang made the statement during the talks with his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh at the Headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense on June 8.

The Indian Defense Minister is on an official visit to Vietnam from June 7 to 10 at the invitation of General Phan Van Giang.

Before the talks, General Phan Van Giang chaired a welcoming ceremony at the Headquarters of the Ministry of National Defense for his Indian counterpart.

During the talks, General Giang welcomed the Indian Defense Minister and the high-level delegation of the Indian Defense Ministry to Vietnam. He highlighted the significance of the visit as Vietnam and India are celebrating the 50th anniversary of the establishment of bilateral diplomatic relations.

The Vietnamese official highly appreciated and thanked the Indian side for supporting Vietnam, especially in personnel training and providing credit packages and assistance to the Vietnamese Ministry of National Defense.

For his part, Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh thanked Minister Phan Van Giang and the Vietnamese Defense Ministry for the warm reception and expressed delight at visiting Vietnam.

Minister Rajnath Singh affirmed that India considers Vietnam an important partner in its Act East Policy. He evaluated that the bilateral cooperation has comprehensively developed in such fields as politics - diplomacy, economy - trade, defense – security, culture, education and training and people-to-people exchange.

Regarding bilateral defense cooperation, the two sides agreed that Vietnam and India have long-lasting relationship, which has been nurtured by Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, President Ho Chi Minh and generations of leaders and people of the two countries. The relationship has steadily developed and obtained practical outcomes.

They evaluated that the bilateral defense cooperation has continuously expanded, deserving to be an important pillar in the Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership.

On the basis of the Vietnam-India Joint Vision Statement for Peace, Prosperity and People adopted in December 2020, the two sides agreed to strengthen collaboration to fully and effectively implement signed agreements with a focus on increasing meetings and exchanges of delegations at all levels, especially high ones.

The two countries will also maintain and enhance the efficiency of dialogue and consultation mechanisms, especially the deputy ministerial-level defense policy consultation, while fostering partnership in personnel training and cooperation among arms and services as well as coordination in U.N. peacekeeping operations. They will also strengthen coordination and consultations at multilateral forums.

Exchanging views on regional and international situation and issues of mutual concern, the two defense leaders said that peace, cooperation and development remain the major trend in the world. However, they showed concern about the complicated developments in the world and regional political and security situation with both traditional and non-traditional security challenges, along with impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic across the globe. They also saw the risks and instability in the security environment in the world and the Asia-Pacific region.

The two sides shared their views on the significance of maintaining peace, stability, maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom in the East Sea (or South China Sea), as well as settling disputes through peaceful means in line with international law, including the U.N. Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) 1982. They also emphasized the need of fully and effectively implementing the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and accelerating negotiation to reach an efficient and substantial Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) in line with international law.

On the occasion, the Vietnamese Defense Minister invited leaders of the Indian Ministry of Defense and defense firms to the International Defense Exhibition that is slated for late 2022 in Vietnam.

Concluding the talks, the two ministers signed a statement on Vietnam-India defense partnership joint vision towards 2030 and a memorandum of understanding on mutual support in logistics between the two ministries.