New Delhi (NVI): Amidst the India China border stand-off and Beijing’s growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said that Vietnam is an important pillar of India’s Act East policy and an important ally of New Delhi’s Indo-Pacific vision.
The Prime Minister was speaking at India-Vietnam Virtual Summit in which his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc also participated.
Addressing the India-Vietnam Virtual Summit. https://t.co/EJoqxllN6Q
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 21, 2020
“We see our relationship with Vietnam from a long-term and strategic view. Peace, stability and prosperity are our common objectives in the Indo-Pacific region. Our partnership can contribute significantly to maintain stability and peace in the region,” PM Modi said.
On the occasion, India and Vietnam also signed key pacts for cooperation in areas such as defence, petrochemicals and nuclear energy. The two sides also unveiled a joint vision for peace and prosperity in the wake of China’s aggressive growing assertiveness in the Indo-Pacific region.
Taking to Twitter, PM Modi wrote: “Held a Virtual Summit H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, PM of Vietnam. We reviewed our cooperation on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues, and adopted a ‘Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People’ to give direction to our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.”
Held a Virtual Summit H.E. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, PM of Vietnam. We reviewed our cooperation on bilateral, regional and multilateral issues, and adopted a ‘Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People’ to give direction to our Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 21, 2020
A ‘Joint Vision for Peace, Prosperity and People’ document was also adopted during the Summit, to guide the future development of the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Both leaders also welcomed the signing of a Plan of Action for period 2021-2023 to implement the Joint Vision, the PMO said in a statement.
Bot the leaders reaffirmed their commitment to strengthen cooperation against common global challenges, including the Covid-19 pandemic. They agreed to maintain active cooperation for ensuring access to vaccines against the pandemic.
Based on strong convergence of views on many global and regional issues, the leaders decided that India and Vietnam would coordinate closely at multilateral forums, including at the UN Security Council, where they will serve concurrently in 2021, the PMO said.
PM Modi also agreed to explore new and practical collaborations in the maritime domain based on convergence between India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative and the ASEAN’s Outlook on Indo-Pacific to achieve shared security, prosperity and growth for all in the region.
He reaffirmed India’s commitment to its development and capacity building partnership with Vietnam, through initiatives such as Quick Impact Projects, ITEC and e-ITEC initiatives, PhD fellowships, as well as projects to support Vietnam’s SDGs, digital connectivity and heritage conservation efforts.
Both Prime Ministers appreciated the successful implementation of the US$ 100 million Defence Line of Credit extended by Government of India to Vietnam, and the completion of seven Development Projects with Indian ‘Grant-in-Aid’ Assistance for the benefit of local community in Vietnam’s Ninh Thuan province.
Prime Minister Modi also expressed special satisfaction about the restoration and conservation work of the My Son temple complex in Vietnam, recently carried out by Archaeological Survey of India (ASI), and offered to work with Vietnam in other similar projects.
-ARK
