Forum highlights Vietnam-India comprehensive strategic partnership

As part of his opening remarks at the event Vietnamese Ambassador to India Nguyen Thanh Hai stated that both nations countries share a common target of creating a peaceful and stable environment for the cause of national development.

They also place importance on the multilateralisation and diversification of foreign relations, as well as supporting regional and world orders based on international law.

The diplomat assessed that the countries have great potential to reinforce co-ordination at regional and international forums, as can be seen by the results of collaboration at the UN General Assembly and other organizations.

Sanjeev Jain, director for South at the Indian Ministry of External Affairs, applauded the numerous achievements in bilateral relations over the last 50 years, noting that the two countries will strive to continue promoting these relations and obtain more successes in future.

Other participants shared the view that both sides boast a considerable convergence of strategic interests as they share many values, have common viewpoints on regional and international issues, carry out strategic foreign policies of self-reliance, view each other as highly-prioritised partners in their respective foreign policies, and serve as active members in multilateral mechanisms.

There remains plenty of room for the two countries to develop bilateral ties on par with the comprehensive strategic partnership, experts said, adding that to make relations more intensive and substantive, aside from bringing into play achievements obtained in the recent past, the two Governments should step up connections in multiple areas.

In terms of politics and diplomacy, both nations should foster delegation exchanges at all levels and collaboration programmes between ministries, sectors, and localities, thereby strengthening bilateral co-operation mechanisms, as well as maintaining effective links at multilateral forums.

Vietnam and India should seek to expand and consolidate security and defence ties, including in defence manufacturing and navigation.

Regarding economics and trade, they should make use of every resource to boost partnerships for common development, along with intensifying and expanding bilateral and multilateral investment co-operation agreements, and boosting connectivity in maritime and air transport to facilitate economic and trade links.

Furthermore, the two sides should step up popularising each other’s culture and tourism, thereby preserving the values of their cultural connectivity and moving to simplify travel procedures, according to experts.

At the forum, participants also expressed their desire to witness the enhancement of mutual ties to new heights moving forward.