Vietnam, India hold defence policy dialogue

Hanoi (VNA) – The 11th Vietnam – India defence policy dialogue took place in New Delhi, India on August 1.

At the function, Indian Defence Secretary Sanjay Mitra said the dialogue is an important mechanism for the two countries to implement agreements secured by their leaders in contribution to the development of Vietnam – India comprehensive strategic partnership.

The Vietnam Defence Ministry considers cooperation with India a top priority and spares no effort to help it grow, stated Deputy Minister Nguyen Chi Vinh.

The sides agreed that bilateral defence ties have been continuously boosted, bringing about practical outcomes.

They highlighted their serious implementation of signed documents and agreements between Vietnamese and Indian defence leaders during their visits to each other’s nations.

They said the two bodies have extended and promoted a series of cooperation mechanisms such as the deputy ministerial level defence policy dialogue, defence working group meeting, consultation between staff officers of the two navies, land and air forces; and exchange of young officers.

They were said to maintain good collaboration between their armed forces and deepened relations in other fields like personnel training, defence industry, UN peacekeeping mission, strategy and intelligence research, and mutual support at multilateral forums.

Senior Lieutenant General Vinh thanked India for its assistance to Vietnam, particularly in providing nonrefundable aid and preferential credit.

The credit packages included 500 million USD for defence industry development and 100 million USD for building high-speed patrol vessels for the border guard, while nonrefundable aid packages were 260,000 USD for an IT and foreign language centre project and 5 million USD for the military software park phase II.

In the coming period, the sides agreed to continue carrying out their sealed deals including a declaration on joint vision of Vietnam – India defence relations for 2015 – 2020.

Delegation exchange, consultation and dialogue mechanisms as well as cooperation in human resources training, defence industry, IT, and peacekeeping mission will be increased, they said.

The Vietnamese side noted it will speed up the distribution of the 500 million USD and 100 million USD credit packages and procedures to disburse the 5 million USD non-refundable aid package.-VNA