According to PM Phuc, the two countries chose to elevate their strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership, reflecting extensive India-Vietnam ties for the interests of the two peoples and the preservation of regional peace, stability, and development.
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In a joint press statement with Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc following delegation-level talks here, Modi said that both sides “agreed to deepen our defence and security engagement to advance our common interests”.
The two countries also chose to elevate their strategic ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership to provide it a new momentum.
Vietnam is considered the central pillar in the relationship between India and ASEAN, according to PM Modi.
Modi’s heavy diplomatic schedule comes only days after India and the USA signed a logistics pact allowing the two countries’ militaries to use each other’s bases for refueling and replenishing.
Modi also visited the tomb of Vietnam’s independence leader and communist crusader Ho Chi Minh, posting a photo on Twitter of the monument where the embalmed national hero is on display, saying: “Paid tributes to one of Asia’s tallest leaders, the great Ho Chi Minh”.
The two countries are celebrating the 45th anniversary of establishing diplomatic ties and 10th anniversary of establishment of strategic partnership in 2017.
A stable global economic and financial system is imperative for development, the prime minister said and called for further strengthening of the global financial safety net.
This was Modi’s eighth meeting with Xi as the Prime Minister.
Vietnam just witnessed the first visit by an Indian prime minister in the last 15 years.
“We ought to respect and give consideration to each other’s concerns, and use constructive methods to appropriately handle questions on which there are disputes”, Xi said, in comments carried by China’s Foreign Ministry.
The two leaders’ meeting is significant as the relations between the neighbours have hit a rough patch in recent years. “Under Vietnam’s leadership as Asean Coordinator for India, we will work towards a strengthened India-Asean partnership across all areas”, Modi said.
Noting that enhancing bilateral commercial engagement is the strategic objective of the two nations, he said, “For this, new trade and business opportunities will be tapped to achieve the trade target of United States dollars 15 billion by 2020”.
India – an emerging power and the fastest growing major economy – is playing a key role in regional and global issues and could be signaling its support of Vietnam.
Before wrapping up his Vietnam visit, Modi also called on President Tran Dai Quang.
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.
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Modi is scheduled to fly out later today to attend the G20 summit in Hangzhou China along with other world leaders.
