Vietnam’s President Tran Dai Quang held talks with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, on March 3, during which they highly valued the intensive and extensive development of Vietnam-India relations in the 45 years since the countries officially set up the diplomatic relationship, and reiterated their close-knit friendship.
The talks were attended by Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, Chairman of the Presidential Office Dao Viet Trung, Minister of Planning and Investment Nguyen Chi Dung, Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development Nguyen Xuan Cuong, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh, Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh, and other senior officials.
The Indian representatives included Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj, Minister of State for Defence Subhash Ramrao Bhamre, Principal Secretary to the Prime Minister Nripendra Misra, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, and Indian Ambassador to Vietnam Parvathaneni Harish.
President Quang expressed his pleasure at visiting India and congratulated the Indian State and people on their remarkable achievements gained over recent years, especially the high and stable economic growth, as well as their major strides in science-technology and India’s increasing role and position in the region and around the world.
For his part, Prime Minister Modi congratulated Vietnam on her accomplishments in nation building and development, particularly having successfully played the role as the host of the APEC Year 2017.
After speaking of the strong development of Vietnam-India relations and reiterating their close-knit friendship, the leaders agreed to fully implement their high-level political commitments and the approved documents on political ties.
The countries will also forcefully tap into their potential and advantages in order to intensify their cooperation in all spheres. They will increase mutual visits at all levels and enhance the cooperation between their Parties, States, Governments, parliaments, localities and people.
To boost bilateral trade to US$15 billion in 2020, the leaders agreed to carry out breakthrough solutions, including diversifying export goods, minimising trade barriers, closely consulting with each other on trade policy, and expanding aviation and navigation connectivity to facilitate trade activities.
They also agreed to exchange development aid packages in the fields that can make breakthroughs such as infrastructure, human resources, and science-technology, while improving their research and development capacity.
President Quang noted that Vietnam wants to welcome an inflow of investment from big Indian businesses, particularly in energy, renewable energy, infrastructure, education, and information technology.
The two sides concurred in strengthening their defence-security cooperation, especially in English language training, capacity building, skill training, technology transfer, preferential credit provisions, and hi-tech crime prevention.
The Vietnamese leader welcomed an upcoming visit to his country by the Indian defence minister, appreciating India for giving high priority to the defence ties and continuing their support for Vietnam in United Nations peacekeeping operations.
The two leaders affirmed the importance of raising awareness among Vietnamese and Indian youths of the long-lasting cultural and religious ties between the two countries, thus promoting people-to-people exchanges and mutual understanding.
President Tran Dai Quang lauded India’s support for Vietnam in implementing a project to conserve and embellish the My Son holly site, as well as the country’s future assistance to preserve Cham towers in Ninh Thuan province.
While comparing their notes on regional and international issue of common concern, Quang and Modi agreed on the importance of maintaining peace, stability and aviation and navigation freedom; settling disputes by peaceful measures in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS); and fully respecting diplomatic and legal processes.
They also underlined the need to fully and effectively implement the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the Ease Sea (DOC) and soon achieve a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC).
Modi affirmed that India will continue to promote the implementation of its “Act East Policy” to boost its cooperation with the Asian-Pacific region, noting that Vietnam is a priority partner and plays a key role in the policy.
The two sides agreed to support each other at international and regional forums, especially in running for seats in important agencies of the United Nations, and in sharing initiatives on global issues to realise UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
After their talks, President Quang and PM Modi witnessed the handing-over of cooperation agreements signed during the visit, including a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the two sides’ ministries of industry and trade on economic and trade cooperation; the Action Plan on agricultural collaboration in 2018 - 2020; and a MoU on cooperation between the Vietnam Atomic Energy Institute and the Global Centre for Nuclear Energy Partnership.
