Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi have expressed their delight at the strong development of bilateral ties since the establishment of comprehensive strategic partnership during Modi’s Vietnam visit in September 2016.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) and his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi

They engaged in talks in New Delhi on January 24 during PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s trip to attend the ASEAN – India Commemorative Summit and a ceremony celebrating the 69th anniversary of Republic Day of India. 

Both said that activities during the Friendship Year 2017 contributed to promoting the two countries’ all-around ties, especially in culture, tourism and people-to-people exchange. 

They agreed to regularly maintain all-level visits via the Party, government, National Assembly and local channels and people-to-people exchange, and soon hold the next meeting of the ministerial-level Inter-Governmental Committee in the first half of 2018 to outline specific measures to realise the Action Programme for the 2017-2020 period. 

Describing national defence-security link as an important pillar of the bilateral ties, the PMs suggested further intensifying trustworthy and effective collaboration in the field. 

PM Phuc wished that India would continue assisting Vietnam in capacity-building and English language improvement, technology transfer and credit supply for national defence. 

The Indian PM welcomed the continued exchange of delegations, the maintenance of national defence-security cooperation mechanisms and requested actively launching several credit packages as agreed. 

In order to achieve the target of 15 billion USD in two-way trade by 2020, they asked the Inter-Subcommittee on Trade to convene a meeting early this year to discuss measures, with a focus on stepping up airline and maritime connectivity and gradually removing trade barriers to facilitate exports and imports. 

The Vietnamese leader pledged to create favourable conditions for Indian enterprises to enhance economic and trade links, especially in fields of India’s strengths and Vietnam’s demand such as infrastructure, information technology, mechanical engineering, energy, and the construction of industrial and high-tech agriculture areas. 

Modi asked for Vietnam’s support for Indian businesses operating in oil and gas, renewable energy and pharmaceuticals. 

PM Phuc spoke highly of non-refundable official development assistance and preferential credit that India has provided for Vietnam over the past years. He also thanked India for continuing to supply scholarships to Vietnam. 

Modi vowed to enhance Vietnam’s capacity via the Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation Programme, the Mekong – Ganga Cooperation, the Quick Impact Projects, actively consider increasing long-term scholarships to Vietnamese students in prestigious Indian universities, as well as help Vietnam build several vocational training centres. 

The two sides consented to working closely together in multilateral forums, particularly within the United Nations framework. 

As Coordinator of the ASEAN-Indian relations for the 2015-2018 period, Vietnam is willing to partner with India to increase multifaceted links with ASEAN, the Vietnamese PM said. 

On the East Sea issue, host and guest highlighted the importance of peace, stability, safety, maritime and aviation security and freedom, the peaceful settlement of disputes with respect to international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. They called for formulating an effective and legally-binding Code of Conduct in the East Sea. 

PM Phuc highly valued India’s stance on the East Sea issue and welcomed India’s further coordination in oil and gas exploration and exploitation in Vietnam’s economic exclusive zone and continental shelf. 

He stated that Vietnam is ready to work with India and other ASEAN member states to step up maritime security coordination in important meetings in the region. 

Following the talks, the two PMs witnessed the hand-over of cooperation agreements between the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications and the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and between the National Remote Sensing Department of Vietnam and the Indian Space Research Organisation.

PM meets Indian President on ASEAN – India summit sidelines

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) and Indian President Ram Nath Kovind

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met Indian President Ram Nath Kovind in New Delhi on January 24, as part of his visit to attend the ASEAN – India Summit in India.

At the meeting, both leaders said they are pleased with robust growth of Vietnam – India traditional ties and comprehensive cooperation since the bilateral relationship was upgraded to a comprehensive strategic partnership in September 2016.

They praised the organization of meaningful events throughout the Vietnam – India friendship year 2017, which marked 45 years of diplomatic relations and 10 years of strategic partnership between the two countries. These events contributed to boosting public understanding on the relationship and bilateral collaboration across sectors, they said.

Lauding Vietnam’s coordination role in ASEAN – India ties, President Ram Nath Kovind stressed Vietnam is an important pillar in India's Act East Policy. He vowed to make stronger efforts in promoting the two countries’ comprehensive strategic partnership based on outcomes of their 45-year diplomatic relations.

PM Phuc stated Vietnam’s consistent diplomatic policy always treasures ties with traditional friends like India.

Both sides agreed to frequently organise high-ranking delegation visits between their parties, governments and parliaments, and exchanges between localities and people. They said defence-security engagements will be boosted toward greater effectiveness, while economics and trade partnerships will be promoted toward a bilateral trade goal of 15 billion USD in 20202. The Indian side said it will continue supporting Vietnam in training high-quality human resources and offering more development support packages and preferential credit to the country.

PM Phuc took the occasion to invited the Indian President and his spouse to visit Vietnam.

Prime Minister receives CEOs of leading Indian businesses

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) had meetings with top executives of several leading Indian businesses in New Delhi on January 24 

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc met with top executives of several leading Indian businesses, namely Tata, Larsen & Toubro (L&T), ONGC, and vDoIT shortly after arriving in New Delhi on January 24.

Talking to Managing Director of Tata Power Anil Sardana, PM Phuc said the Vietnamese Government will create favourable conditions for the two countries’ enterprises to bring investment and business activities on par with the sound political and diplomatic ties.

He asked Tata to increase investment in Vietnam on the basis of Vietnam’s legal regulations on environmental protection.

Sardana affirmed his group’s commitment to expanding production and business projects in Vietnam in a long-term and sustainable manner. Tata also hopes to receive the PM and relevant agencies’ support for their investment projects, he said.

Tata Power is the biggest electricity producer in India. It is implementing the Long Phu 2 thermal power plant project in Soc Trang province and some projects in other fields in Vietnam.

At a meeting with Managing Director of L&T Subrahmanyan, PM Phuc highly valued L&T’s strength and investment projects in many countries, including Vietnam.

He asked the firm to carry out shipbuilding projects in Vietnam with the best quality and lowest costs. It also needs to cooperate with Vietnamese firms in the same fields to transfer corresponding technologies to Vietnam.

Vietnam wants to build solar and wind power factories, and encourages foreign enterprises, including L&T, to partner with local companies to carry out these projects, the Government leader added.

Subrahmanyan informed PM Phuc about L&T’s successful cooperation projects with Vietnamese businesses and agencies, especially in building patrol boats for the coast guard force. 

He added that L&T, a multinational group operating in energy, defence, technology, construction, manufacturing and finance industries, is interested in metro projects in Vietnam and wants to engage in the construction of these projects as they are also a strong field of his firm.

Also on January 24, PM Phuc received Narendra K.Verma, Managing Director of India’s Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC). He asked the group to continue its cooperation with Vietnamese partners in oil and gas exploration and exploitation, as well as production and processing.

Verma expressed his satisfaction at ONGC’s investment projects in Vietnam, adding that the group will continue expanding production and business activities there. He also called for more support and favourable conditions from the PM and the Vietnamese Government for ONGC’s projects.

The same day, PM Phuc had a meeting with Sudheer Pandharpurkar – chairman of vDoIT, which operates in the IT sector and provides technological services and solutions in health care, education, human resources development, and e-government.

The PM welcomed vDoIT’s implementation of the Smart Village project in Vietnam, adding that if the project is successful, it will help improve rural residents’ living standards.

He said the Vietnamese Government is interested in this project as it suits the new-style rural area building programme in the country. He pledged the best possible conditions for the project and asked vDoIT to expand Smart Village to Thai Binh, Dong Thap, and Ninh Thuan provinces.

Pandharpurkar said the Smart Village project is being carried out in 43 villages in Ha Nam and Ninh Binh provinces. It will implement service and solution packages on education, telemedicine, human resources development, and hi-tech agriculture.

He voiced his belief that with local residents’ support, the project will be successful. He also asked for more support for this project from local authorities.

VNA