PANO – In the time to come, Vietnam and India will further implement the signed memorandum of understanding on defence cooperation with the focus on delegation exchanges, training, naval cooperation, as well as cooperation in high technology, defence industry and information technology.
The agreement was reached at the 9th Vietnam-India Defence Dialogue co-chaired by Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh, Vietnamese Deputy Minister of National Defence, and his Indian counterpart Shri R K Mathur on January 16th at the Headquarters of the Indian Ministry of National Defence in New Delhi.
Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh (right) and his Indian counterpart Shri R K Mathur.
Furthermore, the two sides will develop the Centre of Information Technology and Foreign Languages with financial and technical assistance from India as a major software hub in Central Vietnam to meet the army’s demand and serve the nation’s socio-economic development. They also agreed to boost cooperation at multilateral forums in the region, including the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the ASEAN Defence Ministerial Meeting Plus (ADMM+), while effectively carrying out the initiative on humanitarian mine action. The two sides shared the same view that peace, cooperation and development are of a common global tend and that all disputes and differences should be solved by peaceful dialogues and in line with international law without resorting to or/and threaten the use of force.
They said that bilateral defence cooperation between the two countries has seen developments through young officer exchanges, experience sharing, officer training and cooperation between the two countries’ military services. At present, an Indian credit of USD100 million is released to assist Vietnam in building ships for the Vietnamese maritime law enforcement force.
The host affirmed the importance of Vietnam-India Defence Dialogue in fostering friendship and strategic partnership between the two countries, and maintaining regional peace. He also held that India considers Vietnam a pillar in its Look East policy, and will strengthen Vietnam-India relations. He also expressed his willing to support Vietnam in preparating for its first UN peacekeeping mission.
For his part, Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh thanked the host for his warm reception, believing that the relations between the two countries would contribute to defending national independence, sovereignty and development of each country and strengthening the fine Vietnam-India traditional solidarity for peace, stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, and the two peoples’ benefits. He reaffirmed the notes of the two countries’ leaders in saying that defence cooperation has become an important pillar in the Vietnam-India strategic partnership, and promised that Vietnam will do all to develop defence cooperation between the two countries.
The Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister informed the host that the Centre of Information Technology and Foreign Languages under the Vietnamese Defence Ministry’s Telecommunications University will be put into operation in the second quarter of this year. This is a result of the Indian Government’ and Defence Ministry’s assistance for Vietnam’s Defence Ministry.
The same day, India’s national security advisor Ajit Doval received the visiting Vietnamese delegation. The Indian official highly appreciated the visit of the Vietnamese delegation, affirming that India considers its relationship with Vietnam special, and that India highly values Vietnam’s achievements during its national construction and defence cause, and will boost its comprehensive cooperation and relationship with the country. He laid stress on the importance of the defence dialogue in boosting Vietnam-India defence cooperation in particular and their strategic partnership in general.
India’s national security advisor Ajit Doval receiving Senior Lieutenant General Nguyen Chi Vinh
The guest thanked the Indian official for his warm reception, affirming that Vietnam always attaches much importance to the Vietnam-India strategic partnership relations, and will actively step up defence cooperation with India.
In the framework of the visit, the guest visited some of India’s naval and air force units and factories manufacturing defence products.
Translated by Tran Hoai
Đăng ký: VietNam News
