(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam is an important pillar of India's Act East Policy and vital partner of India’s Indo-Pacific Vision, said India’s news website Wion, quoting India’s Prime Minister Narenda Modi after his virtual summit on Monday with Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.
Mr. Modi said India considers relations with Vietnam part of a long-term, strategic vision for a peaceful, stable, and progressive Indo-Pacific region.
At a press briefing, India’s Deputy Foreign Minister Riva Ganguly Das, said that this was a fruitful exchange between the two leaders, allowing them an opportunity to review the entire bilateral relations and set new directions for the future of this important partnership.
"They reaffirmed to enhance bilateral cooperation in all areas of engagement, support each other’s national development, and strengthen cooperation against common global challenges to add new substance and momentum to the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and India," she said.
Both leaders also spoke of the importance of promoting a rules-based order in the region including by upholding international law, especially UNCLOS, Das said, adding that the leaders affirmed that a peaceful, stable, secured, free, open, inclusive, and rules-based region is in the common interests for all nations.
The Hindu Business Line reported that the two signed the India-Vietnam Joint Vision Document on Peace, Prosperity and People and an action plan for the bilateral relationship until 2023.
The Times Now news website said that bilateral cooperation will be strengthened when India and Vietnam both become non-permanent members of the UN Security Council in 2021.