Vietnam - fulcrum in ASEAN for India’s Act East Policy: researcher
(VOVWORLD) - Vietnam is the fulcrum in the ASEAN grouping for India to execute its Act East Policy, Dr. Rajaram Panda, senior researcher at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, told Vietnamese correspondents on the occasion of National Assembly Chairman Vuong Dinh Hue’s official visit to India.
 Dr. Rajaram Panda, senior researcher at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library (Photo: VNA) |
He said without Vietnam’s active support and cooperation, India would have felt constrained to execute many of the projects as a part of its Act East Policy, adding that Vietnam is a very willing partner in this policy.
He said India and Vietnam share mutual understanding in politics, economics and other areas that the two countries have expanded cooperation in. He stated that NA Chairman Hue’s visit to India sends a very powerful message to the world, that India and Vietnam are on the same page on many regional issues and cooperate closely in the changing times.
In regards to the East Sea issue, the Indian scholar emphasised that the East Sea is actually a main concern not only for India and Vietnam but also for many other countries in the region because of China's activities to expand its maritime footprint and build islands, and also its militarisation of the islands within the East Sea.