Vietnam-India High-Level Talks

At the talks between Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Indian Prime Minister Modi on October 28, the two sides reaffirmed their commitment to comprehensively developing the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Promote political, economic, defense, security, science and technology cooperation

The two sides also reached high consensus on major directions and measures to develop bilateral relations in an increasingly practical and effective manner, especially in the fields of politics, economics, national defense and security, science and technology, culture and education. The two sides agreed to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, promote exchanges and cooperation through all channels of the Party, National Assembly and people-to-people exchanges; regularly and periodically organize existing cooperation mechanisms such as the Intergovernmental Committee, Strategic Dialogue and Political Consultation, Defense Dialogue, Joint Subcommittee on Trade, etc.

The two sides highly appreciated the rapid development of economic relations between the two countries in recent times; agreed to consider strengthening economic cooperation as a strategic goal in bilateral cooperation, emphasizing the need to further improve the effectiveness of economic cooperation, setting a target of striving to achieve and exceed bilateral trade turnover of 15 billion USD by 2020. Prime Minister Modi announced that the Indian Government is ready to provide Vietnam with a credit loan of 300 million USD to import raw materials for a number of economic sectors, especially textiles, footwear, etc.

Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung thanked the Indian Government for this goodwill; welcomed and pledged to create favorable conditions for businesses of the two countries to strengthen economic, trade and investment cooperation for mutual benefit in areas where both sides have strengths such as oil and gas, energy, infrastructure construction, information technology, chemicals, fertilizers, pharmaceuticals, agricultural processing, etc. Indian leaders as well as Indian businesses pledged to strengthen cooperation and investment in Vietnam, support Vietnam in diversifying input materials for industries, especially the textile and garment industry, and participate in large infrastructure construction projects in Vietnam. The Indian Prime Minister suggested that Vietnamese businesses take advantage of opportunities from India's economic development program such as "Make in India" to promote mutually beneficial cooperation.

The two sides agreed to continue to promote defense and security cooperation, as well as enhance substantive cooperation in the fields of science, technology, culture and education; said that with the opening of direct flights since November 2014, Vietnam and India have initially achieved aviation connectivity and expressed their interest in promoting efforts to connect maritime routes, promote tourism cooperation and people-to-people exchanges; continue to coordinate effectively and closely with each other at regional and international forums such as ASEAN-India cooperation, the East Asia Summit (EAS), the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF), the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), the Non-Aligned Movement and cooperation within the United Nations framework. Vietnam reaffirmed its support for India to become a member of the UN Security Council when this mechanism is expanded.

Vietnam-India High Level Talks.

Ensuring the rights and interests of countries in the East Sea

Regarding the East Sea issue, the two sides agreed on the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security, and safety of navigation and aviation in the East Sea; India affirmed its support for the legitimate rights and interests of countries in the East Sea that need to be guaranteed; supported the settlement of disputes in the East Sea by peaceful means on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS-1982), fully and seriously implementing the DOC, and promptly developing and completing the Code of Conduct (COC).

Vietnam appreciates India's stance on the East Sea issue and India's commitment to continue cooperating with Vietnam in oil and gas exploration and exploitation in Vietnam's exclusive economic zone and continental shelf in the East Sea.

Signed many cooperation documents

On this occasion, the Prime Ministers of the two countries witnessed the signing of cooperation agreements, including: Memorandum of Understanding on Nalanda University; Memorandum of Understanding on Conservation and Restoration of Cham architectural works in My Son, Quang Nam province; Memorandum of Understanding on the establishment of the English Language and Information Technology Training Center at Nha Trang University of Information and Communications; Cultural Exchange Program for the period 2015-2017; Memorandum of Understanding on radio cooperation between Voice of Vietnam and All India Radio; Framework Agreement on cooperation between OVL and PetroVietnam; Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between ONGC and PetroVietnam.

The State Bank of Vietnam has granted in-principle approval to the Bank of India to open a branch in Vietnam.

The Voice of Vietnam and Prasar Bharati Public Broadcasting Company have also signed and exchanged radio and television programs in the fields of culture, education, science, entertainment, sports, news and other areas of mutual interest. Coordinated production of radio and television programs on topics that audiences love. Exchanged delegations of leaders, reporters and technicians, opened training courses on radio and television techniques for the Voice of Vietnam. Coordinated and participated in organizing important political, cultural and economic events of the two countries.

According to chinhphu.vn