The Indian media have run articles highlighting Minister Nguyen Tan Dung’s October 27-28 visit to the country, with optimistic assessments on the development of bilateral relations.

PTI, UNI, ANI and Times Now news agencies and prestigious newspapers such as the Hindu, the Hindustan Times, the Economic Times, the Indian Express, the Times of India and India Writes mentioned agreements reached by the two countries’ leaders, especially in the fields of defence and oil and gas.

They also analysed prospects for expanding comprehensive relations between the two sides.

Almost all newspapers said the Vietnam-India Strategic Relation was stepped up remarkably after the visit as the two nations agreed to enhance their links not only in security and defence but also in others related to the East Sea issue.

They agreed on the importance of ensuring peace, stability, security and freedom of navigation and aviation in the East Sea , as well as solving all disputes peacefully in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea.

With regard to India’s commitment to helping Vietnam modernise its security and defence forces, articles noted that this is a clear and determined move of India to challenge power-displaying actions in the region, especially in the East Sea.

According to the Hindustan Times, India and Vietnam have enjoyed a time-honoured relationship and their Strategic Partnership has seen practical developments. At present, India wants to diversify its investment in Vietnam and discussed with the Southeast Asian nation on the possible establishment of trilateral strategic relations with Japan .

PM Dung’s visit ended with fruitful results, said an article published on India Writes on October 30. After his talks with the Vietnamese leader, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi informed that his government will soon “activate” a credit of 100 million USD for Vietnam to purchase four Indian naval patrol ships in order to safeguard its sovereignty in the East Sea .

Meanwhile, the Indian Express described PM Nguyen Tan Dung’s visit as a new progress in the bilateral ties, marked by the signing of a cooperation agreement between India ’s ONGC Videsh Ltd and the Vietnam Oil and Gas Group (PetroVietnam) on oil and gas exploration and exploitation at sea.

Talking to Vietnam News Agency correspondents in New Delhi on October 31, Prof. S.D Muni from India ’s Institute for Defence Studies and Analyses (IDSA) commented that the visit increased mutual understanding and upgraded bilateral cooperation in many fields, particularly defence and security.

Collaboration between the two countries will further expand next year when Vietnam serves as a coordinator for ASEAN-India relations, he noted.

VNA/VNN