Vietnam appreciated India’s role in promoting peace and security in the region

India reiterated its "firm stand" on the freedom of navigation and overflight in the region as well as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations at the Second India–Vietnam Security Dialogue on Tuesday.

It is learnt that Vietnam appreciated India’s role in promoting peace and security in the region and in shaping the Indo-Pacific architecture.

The dialogue was held at the level of Deputy National Security Advisor/ Deputy Minister in New Delhi in the physical format.

The National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) was led by Deputy National Security Adviser Vikram Misri and the Ministry of Public Security, Socialist Republic of Vietnam was led by Senior Lieutenant General Luong Tam Quang, Deputy Minister of Ministry of Public Security.

India and Vietnam had a frank discussion on a number of issues of mutual interest.

Dy NSA Misri is learnt to have reiterated Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI), focused on a collaborative effort to better manage, conserve, sustain and secure the maritime domain, and which shares strong convergence with the ASEAN Outlook on the Indo-Pacific.

Misri reiterated India’s firm stand for the freedom of navigation and overflight, and unimpeded lawful commerce in national waters in accordance with international laws, notably UNCLOS, as well as respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, people familiar with the matter said.

The Code of Conduct on the South China Sea should be fully consistent with the relevant UN conventions and negotiations should not prejudice the legitimate rights and interests of nations that are not party to the discussions,.he argued.

The two sides agreed to collaborate and cooperate on Counter-Terrorism. The two sides agreed that coordinated efforts are needed to combat the nexus of radicalization, terrorism and the production and trafficking of illegal narcotics and arms in the region.

India also offered to continue to assist Vietnam for capacity building programs, including providing training to Ministry of Public Security officials in undertaking UN Peace Keeping Missions. India also offered to share its expertise and domain knowledge in the field of cyber security.

Sharing of best practices to combat piracy and illegal fishing was also discussed. The two sides also agreed to actively exchange views in areas such as blue economy, sustainable oceans and marine connectivity.

Deputy Minister Lt General Quang called on National Secretary Adviser and also met Secretary (East), MEA. He will travel to Bodh Gaya during the visit.

India and Vietnam are both maritime countries with an abiding interest in ensuring peace and security in the shared maritime space.

National Security Adviser Ajit Doval had visited Vietnam, along with Thailand, as part of his visit to the region in April 2015.

The two countries had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) establishing an institutional mechanism between India's National Security Council Secretariat (NSCS) and the Vietnamese Ministry of Public Security in 2016.

The inaugural dialogue was held in April 2018 in Hanoi, Vietnam.