(VOVworld)-2017 marks 45 years of diplomatic ties and 10 years of strategic partnership between Vietnam and India. Diplomats and scholars at Tuesday’s international conference in Hanoi agreed that the Vietnam-India relationship benefits both countries’ sustainable growth and world peace.
Vietnam and India established diplomatic ties in 1972, a strategic partnership in 2007, and a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2016.
Nguyen Xuan Thang, Director of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics said that consolidated political trust has created a firm foundation for Vietnam-India ties to grow strongly over the past 45 years.
“Both countries share common strategic interests and mutual trust on most bilateral and multilateral issues. Vietnam and India have coordinated actions to ensure peace, security, cooperation, and freedom of navigation in the East Sea. Mutual political trust has been solidified by reciprocal visits by the two countries’ top leaders,” Thang noted.
 |
| Vietnamese Ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh at a festival to promote Vietnamese cusine in India in March, 2017 (Photo: VNA) |
India is currently one of Vietnam’s top ten trade partners and Vietnam is India’s 4th biggest trade partner in ASEAN. Two-way trade has grown 16% annually and is expected to hit 15 billion USD by 2020. Indian companies are exploiting oil at 3 sites in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone in the East Sea and are expected to tap 5 more sites in the near future.
Defense and security cooperation has been identified as a key pillar in bilateral relations. Vietnam and India have worked out a cooperation roadmap until 2020, focused on fighting terrorism and high-tech crime, enhancing cyber security, and sharing experience in UN peacekeeping missions.
“Vietnam and India have benefited from their fruitful diplomatic ties and strategic cooperation. With enormous economic, military and cultural potential, India is seeking to expand its influence around the world, while Vietnam is increasing cooperation with global powers including India. Bilateral ties over the past 45 years have benefited both countries’s sustainable development and the world,” said Professor Mach Quang Thang of the Ho Chi Minh National Academy of Politics.
“Vietnam and India should establish an IT university in Vietnam, tighten coordination at bilateral and multilateral forums, and strengthen cooperation to address cyber threats, promote tourism, and ensure freedom of navigation and overflight in the East and Indian Seas”, suggested Associate Professor Le Van Cuong, former Director of the Ministry of Public Security’s Strategic Studies Institute.