According to the Vietnamese prime minister, “The upgradation of [our] relationship to Comprehensive Strategic Partnership was an indicator of the importance Vietnam attaches to India”.
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The Prime Minister said “growing forces of violence and terror pose a fundamental challenge” and urged the global community to act in unity and respond against terrorism.
An agreement on construction of offshore patrol boats was also signed by the two sides, signalling a step to give concrete shape to defence engagement between the two nations.
The president also called for increased cooperation in the fields of counter-terrorism, outer space, energy security, and cyber security under the framework of BRICS.
Modi also stressed the need to address the root causes of terrorism emanating from the neighbourhood, leaving little doubt that his message was aimed at getting China to pressure Pakistan, rather than preventing worldwide action on its “all-weather friend” as it has recently done by placing holds on UNSC sanctions on terrorists such as Masood Azhar.
Vikas Swarup who is External Affairs ministry spokes person, quoted the Prime Minister as saying in a series of tweets that we need a regular dialogue between the IMF, Bilateral Swap Arrangements and Regional Financial Arrangements.
It is a fact that Vietnam will never be for India what Pakistan is to China because no other country in the world can be so self-destructive as Pakistan as far as its rivalry with India is concerned.
India and the USA have been calling for freedom of passage in the global waters, much to the discomfort to Beijing, whose claim over SCS was recently struck down by an worldwide tribunal in favour of the Philippines.
Modi also touched on UK’s visa policy.
Indian Navy and Vietnam Navy will cooperate in sharing of white shipping information.
Another $5 million will facilitate the construction of an army software park at the Telecommunications University in Nha Trang.
Chinese President Xi Jinping said Sunday that BRICS members should enhance coordination to make emerging-market economies and developing countries play a bigger role in worldwide affairs.
Modi had congratulated May on her assumption of new responsibility on July 27 and had affirmed India’s commitment to further strengthen the strategic bilateral partnership. The recently signed Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement (LEMOA) between India and the USA has also the same objective – to contain China.
Modi told Xi that “our response to terrorism must not be motivated by political consideration” – an apparent reference to Pakistan, India’s arch rival and China’s all-weather friend.
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Modi has made a point by travelling to Hanoi ahead of his trip to China, as Vietnam is one of the countries that has stood firm against Chinese aggression.
