NEW DELHI: With an eye on China, India has ensured Vietnam of all possible assistance in modernizing its armed forces, including supplying weapons, training its combat pilots and divers, and enhancing its maritime capabilities.
The two countries also decided to publish a new five-year “joint vision statement” next year to build on the previous one during talks between the defense minister. Rajnath singh and his counterpart, General Ngo Xuan Lich, via videoconference on Friday.
In the context that defense cooperation is a vital component of the “comprehensive strategic partnership” between the two countries, which are wary of China’s aggressive behavior in the Asia-Pacific region, India has also previously offered cruise missiles. supersonic BrahMos, as well as the Akash surface-to-air missile defense systems to Vietnam, as TOI reported.
Officials said on Friday that India “remains determined to develop and improve the capacity” of the Vietnamese armed forces, in addition to extending the credit line agreements to the country. “India views Vietnam as a friendly foreign country with common concerns and interests,” said an official.
“Both countries are also looking to collaborate in multiple defense cooperation domains such as ship building, surface and underground capabilities at sea. The joint training of the pilots of the two air forces and the training of the forces that will be deployed in the UN assignments are another area of focus, ”he added.
The two countries also signed an implementation agreement for cooperation in the field of hydrography on Friday. The arrangement will allow sharing of hydrographic data and will aid in the production of navigational charts by the two parties.
PM underlined Narendra modiIn Atma Nirbhar Bharat’s vision to enhance self-reliance, including in defense industries, Singh said that “a strong and self-reliant India will positively contribute to the capacity building of friendly partner countries” such as Vietnam. He also called for closer cooperation between the defense industries of the two countries through the conclusion of an institutionalized framework agreement in the near future.
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