The meeting, which took place in the form of teleconferencing, reviewed the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership since the 16th edition in August 2018, and put forth measures and orientations for cooperation in the new period. (Photo: VNA) Hanoi (VNA) – Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister PhamBinh Minh and Indian Minister of External Affairs Subrahmanyam Jaishankar on August 25 co-chaired the 17th Meeting of the Joint Commission on Economic, Commercial, Scientific andTechnological Cooperation between Vietnam and India.
The meeting, which took place in the form of teleconferencing, reviewedthe bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership since the 16th edition in August 2018, and put forth measures and orientations for cooperationin the new period, towards the 50th anniversary of the bilateraldiplomatic ties (January 26, 1972-2022).
Minh said the Vietnam-India traditional friendship and comprehensivestrategic partnership are developing fruitfully, and the mutual political trusthas been consolidated through regular visits and meetings at all levels, viaParty, State, Government, National Assembly and locality channels, as well aspeople-to-people exchanges.
He recalled the phone talks between Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc andhis Indian counterpart Narendra Modi in April amidst the COVID-19 outbreak,saying the two sides agreed to intensify their existing cooperation mechanisms,and soon take stock of the implementation of the 2017-2020 action programmematerialising the comprehensive strategic partnership.
Minh and Jaishankar shared the view that the two countries shouldcontinue with their close coordination, and the sharing of information andexperience in the pandemic fight, both bilaterally and multilaterally.
The Indian minister lauded the Vietnamese government’s efforts andmeasures against the pandemic, and briefed Minh on countermeasures adopted bythe Indian government.
Minh spoke highly of India’s cooperation in consular affairs and citizenprotection work.
They reached consensus that defence and security is among the key,effective cooperation areas between the two countries, and highly valued theVietnam-India National Defence Policy Dialogue and Security Dialogue.
Vietnam applauds India’s support and experience exchange in trainingpeace-keeping forces, Minh said.
He called on the two countries to boost trade and investment ties in thetime ahead, and effectively implement outcomes of the fourth meeting of thejoint sub-committee on trade that was held in January 2019.
Vietnam and India should maintain the momentum of trade collaboration inorder to bring two-way trade to 15 billion USD as soon as possible, and sign amemorandum of understating on cooperation in trade remedy at an early date,thus bringing practical interests to businesses of both sides, Minh said.
The Indian minister pledged to consider Vietnam’s proposals regarding theeasing and removal of technical barriers imposed on Vietnam’s exports.
The two sides agreed to call for investments in the areas of India’sstrength and Vietnam’s priority like information-technology, energy,infrastructure, and high-tech agriculture.
Both officials saidthat Vietnam and India hold substantial potential for further cooperation inscience-technology, energy, culture, and tourism and people-to-peopleexchanges, and concurred to soon organise a meeting of the working group onhealth care in order to address obstacles in the bilateral medical ties.
Minh also appreciatedthe two sides’ mutual support for each other’s candidacy of multilateralorganisations and forums, and thanked India for its assistance to Vietnamwithin the Mekong-Ganga River Cooperation framework.
Jaishankar affirmed that India attaches importance to ASEAN’s centralityin the region and praised Vietnam’s coordinating role in the ASEAN-Indiarelations during the 2015-2018 period.
They stressed the significance of maintaining peace, stability, security,safety and freedom of navigation and aviation, and the peaceful settlement ofdisputes in the East Sea in line with international law, especially the UNConvention on the Law of the Sea (1982 UNCLOS).
The two sides announced two important documents signed on this occasion,comprising a memorandum of understanding on cooperation between the DiplomaticAcademy of Vietnam and the Indian SushmaSwaraj Institute of Foreign Service, and another on cooperation between theVietnam Institute of Seas and Islands and the Indian National MaritimeFoundation./.
VNA
