Vietnam - fulcrum in ASEAN for India’s Act East Policy: researcher

New Delhi (VNA) - Vietnam is the fulcrum in the ASEAN grouping for India to execute its Act East Policy, Dr. Rajaram Panda, senior researcher at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, told the Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s official visit to India.

“Without Vietnam’s active support and cooperation, India would have felt constrained to execute many of the projects as a part of its Act East Policy,” Panda affirmed, adding that Vietnam is a very willing partner in this policy.

“Among the ten ASEAN member grouping, I think India’s relationship with Vietnam is something special,” he added.

Regarding the visit of NA Chairman Hue to India, he stated that this visit sends a very powerful message to the world, that India and Vietnam are on the same page on many regional issues and cooperate closely in the changing regional and international situations.

For the East Sea issue, the Indian scholar emphasised that the East Sea is actually a main concern not only for India and Vietnam but also for many other countries in the region because the way China has been expanding its maritime footprint, island building and also the militarisation of the islands within the East Sea. These are all matter of concern because the East Sea is a global common which no country should claim as its own, he said.

He stressed the need for a collective, cooperative understanding amongst countries involved so as to secure the East Sea for free navigation that will ultimately lead to regional peace and stability./.