New Delhi, Apr 10 (FN Agency) Vietnam’s Minister of Public Security General To Lam, who is also a Politburo Member of the Communist Party of Vietnam, on Monday held delegation-level talks on bilateral security cooperation with National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, amid China’s increasing assertiveness in the South China Sea. The Minister of Public Security of Vietnam was visiting India at the invitation of NSA Ajit Doval from April 9-10.
During the talks today, the two sides reiterated their commitment to further deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries and enhance the linkages on strategic, security and defense matters, contributing to maintaining peace, prosperity and stability of both countries, the region and the world at large, an official statement said. They noted the discussions held during the Second India- Vietnam Deputy Ministerial Security Dialogue held in September 2022 in New Delhi and agreed to strengthen the ongoing cooperation in exchanges, capacity building and training of officials from the Ministry of Public Security of Vietnam, it said. The leaders further reaffirmed the importance of maintaining and promoting peace, stability, maritime safety and security and freedom of navigation and overflight in the Indo-Pacific Region. Both sides also emphasized the importance of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) and reaffirmed their belief that any differences must be resolved peacefully by respecting international law, without resorting to threats, aggression or the unilateral or forceful change in the status quo. They also exchanged views on the recent developments in their respective regions, it said.
Nityanand Rai, Minister of State of Home Affairs, called on General Ph To Lam. The Vietnamese Minister of Public Security also made a call on Vice-President of India Jagdeep Dhankhar. During his meeting with the Vice President the two sides discussed strengthening the bilateral Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and security issues. The Vice President’s Office in a tweet, said: “The Minister of Public Security of Vietnam, H.E. Gen. To Lam called on Hon’ble Vice President, Shri Jagdeep Dhankhar at Upa-Rashtrapati Nivas today. They discussed the significance of strengthening India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership & the broad domain of security.” The visit of the powerful Vietnamese Minister to India comes as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is set to visit Vietnam next week, with a view to boosting the US’ Indo-Pacific Strategy. Beijing’s laying claim to most of the South China Sea, which borders Vietnam, has irked Hanoi. Late last month a Vietnamese ship had a tense encounter with a Chinese vessel inside Hanoi’s Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) in the South China Sea. India’s flagship overseas firm ONGC Videsh Ltd is also exploring for oil and gas in a Vietnamese block in the South China Sea. India and Vietnam share a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership since 2016 with defence cooperation as a key pillar of the partnership.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had paid a three-day visit to Vietnam in June last year during which the two sides inked key pacts including a 10-year vision document for deepening of bilateral defence cooperation. Bilateral ties between India and Vietnam have strengthened in recent years with a shared focus on regional security issues and trade. Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Vietnam in 2016, on his way to China for the G-20 summit, in the first visit by an Indian prime minister in 15 years.