India and Vietnam today approved an action plan to expand their strategic ties with Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowing to work together for a rules-based Indo-Pacific and asserting that New Delhi supports development, not expansionism. The remarks come amid concerns over China’s military posture in the region.
Following wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Modi and Vietnam Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, the two sides signed six Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and finalised three other documents to expand cooperation in various sectors.
It was also decided that India will provide a line of credit of US$300 million to Vietnam, primarily to strengthen the maritime security of the Southeast Asian nation.
An agreement was reached between the central banks of the two countries to introduce digital payment connectivity.
Prime Minister Chin arrived in New Delhi on Tuesday night on a three-day visit aimed at further expanding the comprehensive strategic relations between the two countries.
“In our Act East policy and our Indo-Pacific vision, Vietnam is our important partner… We support development, not expansionism” (We support growth, not expansion)Prime Minister Modi said in his media statement in Hindi.
He said, “We will continue our cooperation for a free, open, rules-based and prosperous Indo-Pacific region.”
Prime Minister Modi said that both sides decided that cooperation will be strengthened to combat terrorism and cyber security issues.
PM Modi said, “We believe that ‘Developed India 2047’ and Vietnam’s ‘Vision 2045’ have accelerated development in both the countries. This is opening up many new areas of mutual cooperation.”
“Therefore, to further strengthen our comprehensive strategic partnership, today we have adopted a new plan of action,” he said.
Prime Minister Modi said that new steps have been taken for cooperation in the field of defence and security.
The two Prime Ministers also remotely inaugurated the Army Software Park at the Telecommunication University Nha Trang, built with development assistance from New Delhi.
Prime Minister Modi said, “The US$ 300 million loan assistance will strengthen Vietnam’s maritime security.”
“We agreed that the review of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement should be completed as early as possible to realise the mutual trade potential,” he said.
Vietnam is a key member of the 10-nation ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations).
Prime Minister Modi said, “We have decided to focus on the areas of green economy and new emerging technologies. Each other’s strengths in energy and port development will be harnessed for mutual benefit.”
The Prime Minister also invited the people of Vietnam to visit the Buddhist circuit in India. “And we want the youth of Vietnam to also take advantage of Nalanda University.” In his address, Modi said India-Vietnam relations have “expanded and deepened” in the past decade.
“Over the past 10 years, we have transformed our relations into a comprehensive strategic partnership. Our bilateral trade has grown by more than 85 per cent,” he said.
He said, “Mutual cooperation has increased in energy, technology and development partnership. Mutual cooperation in defense and security areas has gained new momentum.”
PM Modi said, “Connectivity has increased in the last decade. And today there are more than 50 direct flights between us. Along with this, tourism is continuously increasing and people have also been given the facility of e-visa.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)