The two countries decided to elevate engagements between defence forces under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership

The 13th India-Vietnam Security Dialogue was held on Tuesday with the two countries reiterating their commitment to further elevate engagements between the Armed Forces under the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and explore defence industry and technology cooperation.

Indian Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar co-chaired the meeting along-with Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister Sr. Lt Gen Nguyen Chi Vin. During the meeting that was held virtually, both the chairs, expressed satisfaction at the growing defence ties between the two countries expressed commitment to further elevate engagements between the Armed Forces under the framework of the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership.

The two countries also agreed to explore Defence Industry and Technology cooperation in which both the countries have made notable strides. The maritime cooperation between the navies of two countries has been a crucial aspect of the defence cooperation. In December last India had sent a warship to deliver aid to Vietnam and it also held a ‘passing exercise’ with the Vietnam People’s Navy in the South China Sea.

Earlier, on December 21 last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a virtual summit with Vietnam’s Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc.

The two Prime Ministers shared the India-Vietnam joint vision for peace, prosperity and people. It included measures to step up their military-to-military exchanges, training and capacity building programmes across the three services and coast guards and will intensify their defence industry collaboration building on India’s defence credit lines extended to Vietnam.

The Prime Ministers in the joint vision statement had also underlined the link between prosperity and security, reaffirming the importance of maintaining peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, while pursuing the peaceful resolution of disputes in accordance with international law.

Bilateral relations between the two countries have shown an upward trend in the past decade. In 2016, Prime Minister Modi had visited Vietnam and had elevated relations between the two countries to the level of Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Visit by Prime Minister of Vietnam Phuc to India in January 2018 as a guest for the Republic Day and for the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit signified momentum of the bilateral relationship.