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Vietnam plays active coordinating role in ASEAN – India relations

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and the Vietnamese high ranking delegation arrived in Hanoi on January 26, successfully wrapping up their India visit to attend the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit celebrating the 25th anniversary of ASEAN-India dialogue partnership and the 69th anniversary of Republic Day of India at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi.
Themed “Shared Values, Common Destiny”, the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit lauded the positive achievements in ASEAN-India cooperation over the past years as well as welcomed Vietnam’s efforts to promote ASEAN-India relations in its role as coordinator.

Trade between ASEAN and India reached nearly 76 billion US dollars in 2017. ASEAN is India’s fourth largest trade partner and India ranks sixth in trade with ASEAN.
During a thematic session on maritime security,  the leaders of ASEAN and India committed to continuing dialogues and collaboration via regional mechanisms in order to maintain peace, stability, security, safety and freedom of navigation and aviation. They agreed to settle disputes by peaceful means in line with international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS).

On the occasion, the leaders of ASEAN and India expressed support for the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and expected the finalisation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) soon.



 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L) holds talks with Indian President Ram Nath Kovind. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


The Prime Minister (L) meets with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


The two leaders witness 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.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA 


The Vietnamese Prime Minister attends the ground-breaking ceremony
for the new headquarters of the Embassy of Vietnam in India. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his wife join a banquet hosted by the Indian President
to welcome ASEAN leaders attending the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit celebrating the 25th anniversary
of ASEAN-India dialogue partnership and the 69th anniversary of Republic Day of India. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

Addressing the summit, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc proposed three key tasks, including fostering trade and investment ties as a key driving force and top priority in the ASEAN-India strategic partnership; increasing connectivity to ensure inter-regional sustainability; and enhancing coordination for peace and stability in the region, the Indian Ocean and the Pacific, coping with traditional and non-traditional challenges.

Regarding cooperation in marine security, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc urged ASEAN and India to strengthen coordination and respect law, including the 1982 UNCLOS, while focusing on measures to deal with maritime challenges and develop a green sea-based economy. He called for the early completion of the marine transportation agreement and information sharing in marine policies as well as enhancement of inter-regional Indian Ocean and Pacific Ocean cooperation.

At the end of the summit, the ASEAN and Indian leaders adopted the Delhi Declaration, mapping out visions to promote the bilateral strategic partnership in the years to come.



 The Vietnamese leader (fourth from left) takes part in the meeting between ASEAN leaders and the Indian Prime Minister.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


Prime Minister Modi receives his Vietnamese counterpart Nguyen Xuan Phuc (L). Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc addresses the plenary session of
the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (fourth from left), Prime Minister Modi (middle) and ASEAN leaders
attend a ceremony to launch a postage stamp collection marking the 25th anniversary of ASEAN – India
dialogue partnership. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA 


 The leaders of ASEAN member countries attend the parade marking the 69th anniversary
of Republic Day of India as key guests of the Indian President. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and his wife at the 69th anniversary of Republic Day of India.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


 View of the celebration of the 69th anniversary of Republic Day of India. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

On the sidelines of the summit, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc had a meeting with Indian President Ram Nath Kovind, held talks with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi and met bilaterally with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen, Indonesian President Joko Widodo, Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha and State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi to discuss ways to further boost bilateral ties. 

Vietnam and India established their diplomatic ties in 1972. 
At their talks, the Vietnamese and Indian Prime Ministers agreed to raise two-way trade to 15 billion US dollars before 2020.

Following the talks, the two Prime Ministers witnessed the hand-over of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation between the Vietnamese Ministry of Information and Communications and the Indian Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, and a cooperation agreement between the National Remote Sensing Department of Vietnam and the Indian Space Research Organisation.

Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc joined leaders of the ASEAN countries in attending a parade marking the 69th anniversary of Republic Day of India as key guests of the Indian President.

The Prime Minister also attended  a ceremony to launch a postage stamp collection marking the 25th anniversary of the ASEAN-India dialogue partnership, and a photo exhibition featuring ASEAN-India relations.

During his stay in India, the Vietnamese Prime Minister received executives of major Indian firms operating in Vietnam such as TATA, Larsen & Toubro, Oil and Natural Gas Corporation (ONGC), Suzlon Energy Limited, Adani Green Energy and vDoIT.

He had a meeting with the staff of the Vietnam Embassy in India, and Vietnamese people living in the country; attended the ground-breaking ceremony for the new headquarters of the Embassy of Vietnam in India and visited the India National Museum in New Delhi.



 On the sidelines of the event, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc
meets with State Counsellor of Myanmar Aung San Suu Kyi. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


The Vietnamese leader (L) has a bilateral meeting with his Singaporean counterpart Lee Hsien Loong. Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


 Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc (R) meets with Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA


 The Vietnamese Prime Minister also meets with Indonesian President Joko Widodo.
Photo: Thong Nhat/VNA

The Prime Minister’s India visit has enhanced  the Vietnam – India comprehensive strategic partnership and 
showed Vietnam’s active role in coordinating the ASEAN – India relations.


 

In 2017, India’s total registered investment in Vietnam reached 756 million US dollars with 168 projects in 24 provinces and cities, ranking 28th in 126 countries and territories investing in Vietnam.

Vietnam now has seven investment projects in India with a total registered capital about 6.15 million US dollars. The projects are mostly in distribution of animal feed and construction materials, export cosmetics export and IT products.


India now is one of ten biggest trade partners of Vietnam. Vietnam-India trade hit 7.63 billion US dollars in 2017, up 41 percent year-on-year, and five times that of 2007. Vietnam’s export turnover to India surged by 21 times, from 180 million US dollars in 2007 to 3.76 billion US dollars in 2017. 
 
By VNA/VNP 

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