Post by : Shakul

Vietnam and India reaffirmed their growing defence partnership during the official visit of Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Vietnam on May 18 and 19. The high-level visit took place at the invitation of General Phan Van Giang, Vietnam’s Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence, and highlighted the deepening strategic relationship between the two countries.

A formal welcome ceremony for the Indian delegation was held at the headquarters of Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence in Hanoi. Following the ceremony, both ministers held bilateral talks focused on strengthening military cooperation, regional security and long-term strategic collaboration.

General Phan Van Giang described the visit as highly significant because it comes during the 10th anniversary of the Vietnam-India Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. He also noted that both countries recently upgraded ties to an Enhanced Comprehensive Strategic Partnership during Vietnamese leader To Lam’s state visit to India earlier this month.

The Vietnamese defence minister praised India’s rapid development as one of the world’s leading economies and recognized its growing influence in regional and global affairs. He said the relationship between Vietnam and India continues to expand through mutual trust, shared strategic interests and close defence cooperation.

Defence Cooperation Expands Across Multiple Areas

During the talks, both sides reviewed progress made under the Joint Vision Statement on Vietnam-India Defence Partnership until 2030, signed during Rajnath Singh’s previous visit to Vietnam in 2022. Officials said bilateral cooperation has produced practical achievements across several important sectors.

The two countries have increased high-level military exchanges, strengthened training and education cooperation and expanded collaboration between military branches. Vietnam and India are also working together in defence industry projects, cybersecurity, military medicine, search and rescue operations and United Nations peacekeeping missions.

General Phan Van Giang expressed gratitude to the Indian government for supporting Vietnam’s military education system, including a non-refundable grant of one million dollars used to build a foreign language classroom at the Air Force Officer School. He also thanked India for providing scholarships and preferential credit support programs.

Vietnam requested India to continue expanding scholarship opportunities for Vietnamese military officers and increase training quotas in specialized fields required by Vietnam’s Ministry of National Defence. Both sides agreed that education and professional training remain key pillars of their defence relationship.

Shared Vision for Regional Stability and Security

The two ministers also exchanged views on regional and international security developments. General Phan Van Giang reaffirmed Vietnam’s foreign policy of independence, peace, cooperation and diversification of international relations.

He emphasized Vietnam’s commitment to resolving disputes in the East Sea through peaceful means based on international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Vietnam also expressed support for the early completion of an effective Code of Conduct in the East Sea.

Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh praised the growing level of trust between the two countries and said the defence relationship has become one of the strongest pillars of Vietnam-India cooperation. He added that India remains committed to supporting Vietnam through military training programs and strategic partnerships.

Singh also said his visit carried special importance because it coincided with the 136th birth anniversary of President Ho Chi Minh, a leader respected and admired by the Indian people.

At the end of the visit, both ministers jointly inaugurated the new foreign language classroom at the Air Force Officer School and witnessed the signing of a cooperation agreement between the Vietnam University of Communications and the Indian Military Communications University, marking another important step in strengthening bilateral defence cooperation.

#India News #Asia News #Defence #Vietnam