Defence cooperation an important pillar in Vietnam-India relations

Minister of National Defence General Phan Van Giang made this statement during a meeting held with Indian President Droupali Murmu on June 19 in New Delhi as part of his official visit to the South Asian nation.

Speaking at the meeting, Minister Giang conveyed greetings from President Vo Van Thuong to President Murmu.

As part of the occasion, the Vietnamese Minister also extended condolences and greetings to the victims and relatives of those affected in the recent serious railway accident in the Indian state of Odisha.

Minister Giang affirmed that the nation always places great importance on developing the traditional friendship and comprehensive strategic partnership with India, with its the foundation laid by President Ho Chi Minh and Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru. Indeed, mutual ties have since been nurtured by generations of leaders and people of the two nations.

Since the official establishment of diplomatic relations, the time-honoured friendship and comprehensive co-operation that exists between the two countries has consistently been promoted by both nations’ leaders and has seen strong development, expanding across multiple fields.

This has brought about practical benefits to the two peoples, in which defence co-operation has become an important pillar in the overall comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Minister Giang informed President Droupadi Murmu about the results of previous talks with Minister Rajnath Singh.

Accordingly, the two sides agreed to evaluate the results of defence co-operation, whilst also outlining orientations for defence links moving forward.

The Vietnamese Defence Minister expressed his desire to receive the attention and active support of President Murmu, thus helping the two defence ministries further strengthen friendship, understanding, and mutual trust.

President Murmu welcomed the official visit to India by Minister Giang and his delegation which, he said, will serve to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.

Appreciating the results of the talks between the two defense ministers, President Murmu emphasised that the bilateral defence relationship continues to maintain a positive development momentum, as well as practical and effective co-operation, thereby making important contributions to boosting bilateral ties.

During his official visit to India, Minister Giang laid a wreath at the President Ho Chi Minh Monument and the National War Memorial in New Delhi, as well as visiting the Defence Research and Development Agency and the Ministry of Defense of India.

He held discussions with officials and employees of the Vietnamese Embassy in India, during which he touched upon activities relating to Vietnam-India defence diplomacy.

During the course of the visit, Minister Giang, the Commander of the Navy and the Commander of the Air Defence-Air Force of Vietnam, held separate meetings with the Commander of the Navy and the Commander of the Air Force of India in order to secure co-operation content.