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India, Vietnam agree to deepen defence cooperation

Hangzhou (China), September 4 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday told Chinese President Xi Jinping about India’s concerns over terrorism emanating from Pakistan’s restive regions through which the $46 billion China-Pakistan Economic Corridor is being built. “As two important countries in this region, we also feel it necessary to further our ties on regional and worldwide issues of common concern”, said Modi, who is here on a day-long visit.

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The Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC) Videsh already has a productive Block 6 and has hung onto offshore Block 128, which is partly claimed by China, after Vietnam’s requests for it do so.

Earlier, Chinese Foreign Minister and Special Envoy Wang Yi had conveyed a message from his President to Prime Minister Narendra Modi praising his leadership.

“Both Vietnam and India stressed the need for reform of the United Nations and expansion of the UN Security Council in both the permanent and the non-permanent categories of membership, with enhanced representation from developing countries”, the joint statement said.

Military cooperation tops the discussions between Modi and Phuc.

The credit was for facilitating mutual defence cooperation and relationship that would contribute to stability, securities and prosperity in the region, Modi was quoted as saying by Reuters Saturday.

India and Vietnam share borders and large trade volumes with China and have repeatedly locked horns with Beijing, over the territorial disputes in the Himalayas and the South China Sea, respectively.

Stating that the two sides have agreed to upgrade their strategic partnership to comprehensive strategic partnership, Modi said: “PM and I have agreed to deepen our defence cooperation”.

The Prime Minister’s final engagement during the visit was a call on Nguyen Phu Trong, General Secretary of the Communist Party.

Vietnam is India’s country coordinator for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean). He also appealed the grouping to “isolate and sanction supporters of terrorism”.

Modi also spoke about strengthening global financial safety which will play as a catalyst in promoting inclusive and sustainable growth.

USA president praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for the historic GST tax reform and called it a “bold policy move in hard global economic scenario”.

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Noting that India is a major country with unique and age old civilisation and culture, he said Vietnamese people had never forgotten India’s strong support during Vietnam’s struggle for independence, sources said. She recalled long standing historical and cultural ties with India and said as a young girl she used to watch Indian films.

India, Vietnam sign 12 agreements