(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam has been a time-tested and reliable partner of India in Southeast Asia, Prof. Dr. Prabir De from the ASEAN – India Centre under the Research and Information System for Developing Countries has affirmed.
 The staff of Vietnamese embassy welcome Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh at the Palam military airport in New Delhi (Photo: Duong Giang/ VNA) |
Speaking to reporters on the occasion of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh’s State visit to India from Tuesday to Thursday, Mr. Prabir De said that PM Chinh’s trip is expected to create opportunities not only for the Vietnam-India ties but also the ASEAN-India relations.
He said Vietnam is one of the key members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), and a motive for the bloc’s integration, as ASEAN and India have upgraded their relationship to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Regarding bilateral cooperation potential, the Indian specialist held that trade between the two countries has exceeded 15 billion USD, suggesting the two sides strengthen their trade ties via a pilot free trade agreement.
From the economic and security perspective, there are various programs and projects that ASEAN and India could carry out if they find out a rational strategy to boost the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific (AOIP), and the Indo-Pacific Oceans’ Initiative (IPOI).
As Vietnam is an important partner in the AOIP’s projects and programs, and a key coastal nation with a number of maritime and port projects, the two nations have opportunities to cooperate in this domain, he said, adding the two countries, both boasting an array of civil ports, would promote the bilateral trade as well as with Asia and the remainders of the world if they enhance bilateral maritime commitments through agreements and the private sector.