Nirendra Dev
New Delhi: Prime Minister Modi invited his counterpart to India, and both leaders agreed to celebrate the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had a phone call on Saturday, July 10, with his Vietnamese counterpart Pham Minh Chinh.
Mr. Modi congratulated Mr. Chinh on his appointment as the Prime Minister of Vietnam and expressed confidence that the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership will continue to become stronger under his able guidance.
The year 2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between India and Vietnam.
Both leaders agreed to celebrate this "auspicious milestone in a befitting manner" through various commemorative activities, an MEA release said.
Mr. Modi also invited PM Chinh to undertake an official visit to India at an early suitable date.
During his visit to Vietnam, on September 2, 2016, Mr. Modi announced a new line of credit: US$500 million for procurement of defense equipment.
India is selling Vietnam four large patrol vessels that will enable Vietnam to patrol its waters and, Vietnam has also shown interest in buying BrahMos short-range cruise missiles.
India is setting up the Satellite Tracking and Imaging Centre by Indian Space Research Organization in Southern Vietnam for intelligence gathering. This would help better vigilance in China, sources say.
Prime Minister Modi welcomed both nations share a vision of an open, inclusive, peaceful, and rules-based Indian Ocean Region and that the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership can help promote regional stability, prosperity, and development.
In this context, the Prime Minister noted that both India and Vietnam were presently fellow members of the UN Security Council.
Mr. Modi thanked PM Chinh for the valuable support provided by the Government and people of Vietnam during the second wave of the Covid-19 pandemic in India.
The leaders agreed, both countries should continue consultations and cooperation to support each other's continuing efforts against the pandemic.
Both the Prime Ministers also reviewed the state of bilateral relations and shared their views on different areas of cooperation.
