Minister of National Defence Sen. Lieut. Gen. Phan Van Giang (Photo: VNA)

Minister Giang expressed his deep sympathy over the losses that Indian people have suffered due to the COVID-19 pandemic, stressing his belief that with drastic measures, India will overcome this hard time soon.

The two ministers noted that since 2020, the complicated COVID-19 developments have greatly affected the cooperative plans between the two countries. However, both sides have found collaborative measures suitable to the situation, and gained practical outcomes in some instances, including transferring credit support from the Indian Government to the Vietnam National Defence Ministry, personnel training, and supporting each other in pandemic prevention and control.

They agreed that in the future, both sides should strengthen exchanges to fully make use of signed agreements, focusing on personnel training, credit package implementing, coordination among armed forces, defence industry, UN peacekeeping operations, COVID-19 fighting, and coordination in settling common security issues at multilateral forums.

Vietnam supports India’s Act East Policy as well as the country’s stronger cooperation with the ASEAN, contributing to maintaining peace, security, stability and development in the region and the world on the basis of respect to international law, stated Minister Giang.