Vietnam, India look to ramp up partnership across fields
Vietnam’s dy minister of public security in India to meet interlocutors GEN PHAN VAN GIANG, THE CHIEF OF GENERAL STAFF OF THE ARMY, WILL VISIT NEW DELHI DURING NOV 24-27
NEWDELHI:VIETNAM is ramping up ties with India in areas ranging from defence to tourism under the three-year-old comprehensive strategic partnership, with two top Vietnamese generals visiting the country this month to discuss security issues.
Senior lieutenant general Bui Van Nam, Vietnam’s deputy minister of public security, is currently in India for meetings with Indian interlocutors to boost security cooperation. Gen Phan Van Giang, the chief of general staff of the army, will visit New Delhi during November 24-27 to strengthen defence cooperation, Vietnamese envoy Pham Sanh Chau said on Monday.
Joint production of military hardware and Vietnam’s participating in Defexpo 2020, which will be hosted by Uttar Pradesh, will figure on the agenda during Giang’s visit. The two sides are also exploring ways to operationalise a $500-million line of credit for defence cooperation offered by India in 2016, Chau said.
The 18th security dialogue, one of about 20 bilateral mechanisms, was held in Vietnam last month and also discussed cooperation in defence production and regional security issues, he added.
Describing repeated intrusions by Chinese vessels in Vietnam’s exclusive economic zone as “one of the most serious crises”, Chau said his country had welcomed Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent remarks on maintaining peace and security in the region.
To mark the third anniversary of the comprehensive strategic partnership, Vietnam is organising a slew of events this month.
Low-cost carrier Vietjet, Vietnam’s first privately owned airline, is set to launch Delhi-ho Chi Minh City flights four times a week from December 6 and Delhihanoi flights three times a week from December 7, Chau said.
About 35,000 Vietnamese tourists visit India every year, while 110,000 Indians travel to Vietnam.
The two countries are also on course to achieve the target of enhancing bilateral trade to $15 billion by 2020.