Vietnam, India hold large potential to deepen defence partnership
New Delhi (VNA) – There is plenty of room for Vietnam and India to deepen bilateral
defence cooperation based on their comprehensive strategic partnership.
Lieutenant General Vu Chien Thang, Director of
the Foreign Relations Department under the Ministry of National Defence, made
the statement in an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of
Defence Minister Ngo Xuan Lich’s visit to India from December 4-7.
He highlighted the traditional friendship
between Vietnam and India, which was founded by President Ho Chi Minh and Prime
Minister Jawaharlal Nehru, and then nurtured and developed by generations of
leaders and people of the two countries.
India is a reliable and close friend of Vietnam,
he said, adding that the bilateral defence relations have been lifted to a new
height after the two nations elevated their strategic partnership to
comprehensive strategic partnership in September this year.
Thang noted that Minister Ngo Xuan Lich and his
Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar agreed during their meeting to increase the
exchange of delegations at all levels, especially among young officials, for
deeper mutual understanding and experience sharing.
The two ministers also consented to carry out
the 500-million-USD credit package that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi
pledged for Vietnam during his recent visit to the Southeast Asian country, as
well as re-evaluate India’s 100-million-USD defence credit package for Vietnam.
India vowed to continue assisting Vietnam in the
training of pilots and information technology officials training and sharing
experience on UN peacekeeping activities.
Both sides agreed to soon implement the 5.45
million USD aid package announced by the Indian Prime Minister to realise the
second phase of the software park project in Nha Trang city of the central
coastal province of Khanh Hoa.
Lieutenant General Vu Chien Thang said the agreements
reached by the two ministers made practical contributions to the bilateral
comprehensive strategic partnership, especially when Vietnam and India are
celebrating the 45th anniversary of diplomatic ties and 10th anniversary of their
strategic partnership.
He stressed Vietnam supports the Act East policy
of India, while India considers Vietnam an important pillar in this policy.
Vietnam is willing to support India to expand
relations with other ASEAN member states and make contributions to peace and
stability in the region, the official added.-VNA