Vietnam, India to lift bilateral trade to $15bn

Vietnam’s Party General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong and Indian President Ram Nath Kovind have consented to further boost the two nations’ relationship and elevate bilateral trade turnover to US$15 billion in the near future.

Vietnamese General Secretary and State President Nguyen Phu Trong (L) and Indian President Ram Nath Kovind review the guard of honor in Hanoi on November 21, 2018. Photo Tuoi Tre

President Kovind joined talks with the Vietnamese leader in Hanoi on Tuesday as part of his first state visit to the Southeast Asian country from November 18 to 20.

According to Vietnam’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, both sides stressed the significance of deepening the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership in all sectors.

The heads of state agreed to establish practical policies and measures to elevate two-way trade value from the current $12.8 billion to $15 billion in the coming time.

They suggested boosting ties in trade and investment, renewable energies, and high-quality agriculture, while encouraging the Vietnam National Oil and Gas Group and the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation of India to actively explore oil and gas in Vietnam, as well as seeking cooperation models with a third country.

Both sides highlighted the importance of promoting connectivity and accelerating procedures to help low-cost Vietnamese carrier Vietjet soon launch its direct flights between Ho Chi Minh City and New Delhi.

The Indian president pledged to continue providing scholarships for Vietnamese students.

The leaders praised the effective defense and security cooperation between the two nations, agreeing to step up collaboration in human resources development and strengthen the affiliation between the two nations’ armed services.

They applauded the implementation of a $100 million credit package to build high-speed patrol vessels for Vietnam’s border guards and agreed to soon organize the first marine security dialogue.

Efforts will also be exerted to continue close coordination and mutual support at multilateral forums, particularly the United Nations.

Vietnam is a pillar in India’s ‘Act East’ policy, as well as a key partner in Southeast Asia, President Kovind stated.

Regarding the situation in the East Vietnam Sea, President Trong welcomed India’s stance on the issue over the years, hoping that India will continue their support in the future.

Following the talks, the two leaders witnessed the signing of numerous important documents.

The Indian president also met with Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and National Assembly Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan on the last day of his state visit.

Toui Tre News

India, Vietnam emphasise freedom of navigation in South China Sea

Amid increasing Chinese assertiveness in the region, India and Vietnam have underlined the importance of freedom of navigation and overflight in the South China Sea, while calling for peaceful settlement of disputes without threat or use of force.

Prime Minister Modi and President Tran had a convergence of views on various bilateral and international issues, including the regional security situation in Asia, a joint statement said.

After delegation-level talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang yesterday, the two countries also resolved to deepen cooperation in the field of defence and security.

The Vietnamese side reiterated its consistent support for India's permanent membership to United Nations Security Council (UNSC), a joint statement said.

The two sides had also inked pacts for cooperation in the field of nuclear energy, trade and investment, and agriculture following Modi-Tran talks.

India and Vietnam also agreed to further cooperate in maintaining peace, stability and development in the Indo-Pacific region as well as in the world at large.

"They also reiterated the importance of, and the need for complete compliance with international law, notably the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS), including the implementation of international legal obligations," the statement said.

Read more: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/india-vietnam-emphasise-freedom-of-navigation-in-south-china-sea/articleshow/63158850.cms

India, Vietnam vow to jointly work for open, prosperous Indo-Pacific

Modi and Tran make pledges that send a message to China. India and Vietnam ink three pacts providing for cooperation in nuclear energy, trade and agriculture, besides deciding to boost ties in oil and gas exploration

Prime Minister Narendra Modi shakes hands with Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang before their delegation level meeting in New Delhi on Saturday. Photo: AP

New Delhi: India and Vietnam on Saturday resolved to work jointly for an open and prosperous Indo-Pacific along with an efficient and rules-based regional security architecture, seen as a message to China over its growing military expansion in the region.

After wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese president Tran Dai Quang, the two strategic partners inked three pacts providing for cooperation in nuclear energy, trade and agriculture, besides deciding to boost ties in oil and gas exploration.

Modi said both sides expressed commitment for an open, efficient and rules-based regional architecture and to expand bilateral maritime cooperation further. “We will jointly work for an open, independent and prosperous Indo Pacific region where sovereignty and international laws are respected and where differences are resolved through talks,” Modi said in a media statement in the presence of the Vietnamese president.

In an apparent reference to the South China Sea dispute, the Vietnamese president said it supports India’s multi-faceted “connectivity” with ASEAN and asserted that there must be freedom of navigation and over flight in the region. He said that disputes must be resolved through peaceful means.

Vietnam and several other ASEAN member countries have territorial disputes with China over the resource-rich South China Sea. While India, the US and several other world powers have been pressing for resolution of the dispute on the basis of international law, China has been favouring a bilateral framework with respective countries.

“We reaffirm our close collaboration to support India to further its relations and multi-faceted connectivity with ASEAN attaching high importance to the maintenance of security, maritime safety and freedom of navigation and over flight, settlement of disputes by peaceful means on the basis of international law including ULCLOS (UN Convention on the Law of the Sea),” Quang said.

The Vietnamese president said it was important to respect the diplomatic and legal process in resolution of the dispute. He said both sides also agreed to work closely to address regional security challenges including in the domain of maritime and cyber security.

On defence cooperation, which is on an upswing, the prime minister said both sides decided to cooperate in defence production and explore opportunities in transfer of technology. During the talks, Modi said India and Vietnam have also “agreed” to deepen trade and investment ties in sectors like oil and gas exploration, renewable energy, agriculture and textiles.

He said the two sides will also look for trilateral partnership in oil and gas sector. The three pacts signed after the talks between the two leaders will provide for cooperation in areas of nuclear energy, trade and agriculture.

Earlier in the day, external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj called on the Vietnamese president. Their discussions focused on steps to further strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership by expanding cooperation across all sectors, ministry of external affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said. Quang was also given a ceremonial reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. - Livemint

Why the Vietnam President’s India Visit Matters for Security Ties

The weekend trip attests to the logic of increased security cooperation between the two major Asian players.

In addition to the manifold story lines that have emerged in recent days, Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang’s India visit, which kicked off on March 2 and will last till March 4, is a testament to the growing closeness in the bilateral security ties between Hanoi and New Delhi.

Quang’s visit comes at a time when momentum for bilateral ties and India’s ties with Southeast Asia in general are at a high level. This is a trip that is coming just a few weeks of the Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to India as chief guest at India’s Republic Day celebrations in January, along with the leaders from all the other ASEAN countries.

Quang’s visit also marks 45 years of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and India and is centered on continuing efforts to deepen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between the two countries. According to the Vietnamese Ambassador in India, Ton Sinh Thanh, the President will deliver an address on March 4, which is set to be an “important policy statement.”

On the security side, India and Vietnam share concerns about the growing Chinese power and how it might impact on their national security. Nowhere is that clearer than in the South China Sea. Responding to China’s aggressive posturing in the South China Sea, Vietnam has called on India to play a more proactive role in Southeast Asia.

India, for its part, has reiterated the importance of and adherence to international law, especially the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), in settling the South China Sea issue. Speaking about the Indo-Pacific waters in Indonesia in January this year, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj said, “These waters must not only get better connected, but remain free from traditional and non-traditional threats, that impede free movement of people, goods and ideas. Respect for international law, notably UNCLOS, in ensuring this is, therefore imperative.” She added that ASEAN and India are maritime nations and that India will strive “to evolve a regional architecture based on the twin principles of shared security, and shared prosperity.”

Both India and Vietnam have unresolved disputes with China and have been subjected to aggressive Chinese tactics. Vietnam is one of the handful of countries in Southeast Asia that has stood up to Chinese pressure, even though how long Vietnam can hold up against China is open to question. In addition to the gross imbalance of power between the two countries, a recent RAND study concludes that Vietnam may not be able to engage in “an extended, large-scale, or high-intensity conventional conflict in the region” for a variety of reasons. Thus, it is no surprise that Vietnam is keen that states like India, Japan, and the United States help build up its capabilities, especially on the air and naval fronts.

India is clearly keen to help, and New Delhi has a comprehensive defense and security relationship with Vietnam. The growing number of high-level bilateral visits, annual security dialogues, and military-to-military cooperation are an indication of the growing convergence in security matters. The Joint Commission Meeting at the Foreign Ministers’ level and the Foreign Office Consultations, Strategic Dialogue at the Foreign Secretary level, and Security Dialogue at the Defense Secretary level are some of the useful institutional mechanisms that have propelled the relationship.

Beyond this, India has been training the Vietnamese military in operating its Russian-built Kilo-class submarines and SU-30 fighter jets. Supply of military spares, maintenance of hardware, and ship visits are also other important facets of the defense cooperation. The two sides have also signed an MoU for Coast Guard-to-Coast Guard collaboration. During Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Vietnam, New Delhi gave Hanoi a $500 million line of credit for defense cooperation. Sale of Brahmos missiles to Vietnam has also been reported from time to time, though it has yet to be confirmed.

While defense ties have somewhat dominated the headlines regarding the relationship because of China, there is an effort to continue to boost other aspects of the relationship as well, particularly in the economic realm. It is therefore no surprise that the visiting delegation includes the Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh, ministers for trade and industry and planning and investment, as well as a large group of businessmen. During the visit, the two countries are expected to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on nuclear energy, agriculture and trade and investment. An MoU for joint port development and a joint venture on a coal project are also likely to be signed during the visit.

To be sure, the India-Vietnam bilateral trade is a miniscule one compared to Vietnam-China bilateral trade, which is around $70 billion. But it is also true that given India’s market size and continued economic improvements and Vietnam’s rapidly rising economic profile, trade and investment should pick up in the bilateral context with India. This could in turn also give fillip to the bilateral strategic engagement, making the relationship a more comprehensive one.

Shared concerns about China have brought India and Vietnam particularly close in the recent years. Unless China mends its ways, which seems quite unlikely, expect to see Hanoi and New Delhi continue deepening their strategic and defense ties in the future. - The Diplomat

India, Vietnam set to ink nuclear energy pact, boost defence ties

During Vietnam President Tran Dai Quang’s visit this week, the two sides will discuss developments in South China Sea

Indian warship INS Shivalik visited Hai Phong port in 2014. (Image: Indian Embassy)

New Delhi: In a move that could put China on the back foot, strategic partners India and Vietnam are to boost defence ties and sign pacts on civil nuclear cooperation and port development during a visit by Vietnamese President Tran Dai Quang later this week.

The two countries will also exchange views on developments in the South China Sea where Vietnam and some other South-East Asian nations are locked in a maritime dispute with China, Vietnam’s ambassador to India Ton Sinh Thanh told reporters in New Delhi on Tuesday.

The three-day visit starting on Friday comes at a time when India is warily watching China make inroads into its neighbourhood with an increased naval presence as well as a stepped up infrastructure profile in countries like the Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka as part of its multi-billion dollar Belt and Road Initiative. India views South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region as its traditional sphere of influence while China sees the South China Sea as its backyard. In the past, China has objected to India’s ONGC Videsh Ltd exploring for oil in blocks off the Vietnamese coast in the South China Sea—claiming it to be in its territorial waters.

President Tran Dai Quang’s first visit to India will start from Bodh Gaya, a noted Buddhist site that is frequented by pilgrims from Japan and South-East Asia. On the second day of his visit on Saturday, he will meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Ram Nath Kovind.

Of the 26 countries that Vietnam has a strategic partnership with, “the level of the strategic partnership with India is the highest,” Ton Sinh Thanh said, adding that there was “strong political trust” between the two countries as there was a “strong convergence of strategic interests.”

The Vietnamese president’s visit would aim to make the partnership more comprehensive with the addition of economic, scientific and cultural elements, he said, adding that one of the agreements expected to be signed was in the area of peaceful uses of civil nuclear energy.

Apart from the civil nuclear pact, which will be signed between the two governments, three other pacts—including one on the development of a port in the Nghe An province in north-central Vietnam —will be signed with Indian companies, Tran Le Tien, economic counsellor in the Vietnamese embassy in New Delhi, said.

Indian companies will be looking at “developing the port for operations, to raise its capacity to 5 million tonnes (cargo handling) capacity,” he said. Another pact envisages the setting up a $50 million coal terminal in Vietnam, Tran Le Tien said.

According to the ambassador, the two countries will aim to deepen trade and defence ties during the president’s trip. India had extended a $500 million line of credit to purchase military equipment during a visit by Modi to Vietnam in 2016. This was in addition to another $100 million extended in 2014. “We are buying some equipment from India for the (Vietnamese) army and navy,” Ton Sinh Thanh said, but did not confirm media reports that the Vietnamese government had purchased the India-Russia co-developed BrahMos cruise missile.

The situation in the “South China Sea will be discussed” with Indian leaders, the ambassador said, describing the current state of the dispute as “complicated.” China and other countries that are party to the dispute had agreed to a code of conduct in the South China Sea aimed at minimizing friction, he said.

Source: Livemint

Drill with Vietnam to test China waters

New Delhi, June 6: Four Indian warships anchored in Da Nang will sail out of the Tien Sa port for a rescue drill with the Vietnamese navy in waters that China contests, about the same time that defence minister A.K. Antony lands in New Delhi tonight after a three-nation Asia-Pacific tour.

INS Ranvijay entering Tien Sa Port in the central city of Da Nang

The warships from the Indian Navy’s eastern fleet headquartered in Visakhapatnam sailed for an annual overseas deployment on May 30, just after Chinese Premier Li Keqiang’s India visit that followed a tense three-week standoff between the Indian and Chinese armies in Ladakh’s Daulat Beg Oldi.

The Tien Sa port in Da Nang where the fleet commanded by Rear Admiral P. Ajith Kumar is now anchored is at the point where the Han river flows into the South China Sea — or as the Vietnamese call it — the East Sea.

A little less than two years ago, the Indian Navy’s assault ship, the INS Airavat, was sailing from one Vietnamese port to another in those waters when it was buzzed by what was later reported to be the Chinese navy. It was warned that it was in Chinese waters.

Now with another, more potent, Indian naval presence at roughly the same place, the defence establishment in New Delhi is listening intently for echoes of that buzz.

The Indian flotilla comprises the INS Satpura, home-made “stealth frigate”, the INS Ranvijay (destroyer), the INS Kirch (missile corvette) and the INS Shakti (logistics vessel). The flotilla is also due to sail for Manila in the Philippines the day after tomorrow. The Philippines also contests the claim of China over those waters.

The sensitivities are particularly heightened after the Raki Nala “tent war” that observers in Japan noted had coincided with Chinese assertiveness over claims on the Senkaku Islands. The Indian naval presence in those waters, therefore, is a demonstration of both reach and a show of power.

But Antony has been emphasising during his tour of Singapore, Australia (the first by an Indian defence minister) and Thailand that India was not making any statement of intent.

“We support freedom of navigation in international waters and security of sea lanes of communication,” he said in Bangkok today — as he had said in Singapore, Perth and Canberra — his last stop before taking off for New Delhi.

“We support the resolution of differences and disputes through the process of dialogue and consensus between the parties to such disputes. All countries must exercise restraint and resolve issues diplomatically, according to the principles of international law,” he said. Antony’s visit to Bangkok has coincided with a meeting of representatives of China and ASEAN countries on evolving a code of conduct (CoC) to resolve disputes in international waters.

The placatory statements have other resonances too because of the timing and destinations that the defence minister has covered on this tour. Singapore, Thailand and Australia are among the US’s greatest allies in the region.

In Perth, where Australian defence minister Stephen Smith made a case for greater military-to-military ties with India, Antony said New Delhi and Canberra would make efforts for a major naval exercise in the Indian Ocean region in 2015.

In Singapore, Antony watched over the signing of the five-year extension of a treaty to give military training facilities to the Singaporean army and air force. The treaty is unique to Singapore that does not have adequate space required for military training. Singapore also pays for the use of Indian facilities such as the airfield in Kalaikunda, Bengal.

En route to the South China Sea, the flotilla of Indian warships also held “Simbex”, an exercise with the Singaporean navy.

In Bangkok today, Antony invited Thai teams to visit Indian defence production facilities and offered to export or set up plants if Thailand so desired. All three countries — Thailand, Singapore and Australia — use US-made military equipment and host US military bases through far-reaching agreements that the US has offered to India but New Delhi has so far been cagey of signing.

Australia has specifically pointed out that the Indian Air Force was also now using US-made platforms like the C-130J special forces transport aircraft and the commonality of equipment would allow for intensive training. Antony has so far refused to commit.

Antony’s stopover in Bangkok has also come in the week after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s halt on his return from a visit to Japan that followed Premier Li Keqiang’s Delhi trip. In Japan, the Prime Minister’s talks focused on strategic and military relations and an exchange of notes on the dispute over the Senkaku Islands that China claims.

Antony landed in Singapore on his first stop a day after the Shangrila Dialogue, an annual event hosted by the Institute of Strategic Studies, London, that was attended by most Asian defence ministers (including China’s). India was represented by the chief of naval staff, Admiral D.K. Joshi.

But by taking-in Singapore, Australia and Thailand, three US allies in the Asia-Pacific, on a single tour, India’s defence minister has signalled that New Delhi wanted to beef-up military relations with each of these countries bilaterally but stay away from what might look like alliance-making to China.

Telegraph India

In pictures, Indian naval ships dock in Vietnam port

Four Indian naval ships docked at Tien Sa Port in the central city of Da Nang Tuesday morning for a four-day friendly visit.

INS Ranvijay entering Tien Sa Port in the central city of Da Nang

INS Ranvijay (D55) Destroyer dock at Tien Sa Port of Na Nang

The fleet comprises guided missile frigate INS Satpura, fleet tanker INS Shakti, destroyer INS Ranvijay ,and corvette INS Kirch (P62) with a total of 1,200 offices and sailors on board.
The Indians will hold a search and rescue exercise with Vietnam's 3rd Regional Command.

INS Ranvijay Destroyer

INS Ranvijay Destroyer

The visitors will also meet with their counterparts in the 3rd Regional Command.

Music bands from the Indian Navy and an art troupe from Vietnam Military Zone 5 will play for the guests and invitees on board one of the Indian vessels Thursday.

INS Ranvijay equipped with Brahmos supersonic anti-ship missile.

INS Satpura F48 equipped with guided missile

On January 1 this year sail training ship INS Sudarshini with six officers and 70 sailors visited Da Nang for three days to mark the 40th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Vietnam and India.

INS Kirch (P62) frigate

INS Shakti (A57) logistics ship

Vietnam Students welcome the Indian Navy

kienthuc.net.vn

Vietnam, India to boost maritime cooperation

In a meeting with Indian Minister of Shipping in Hanoi on Friday, Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung said the Vietnamese government always supports the multifaceted ties between the Vietnamese Ministry of Transport and the Indian Ministry of Shipping.

Two Indian naval ships, the INS Shivalik and INS Karmuk, commanded by Rear Admiral Ajit Kumar P, who is also the Eastern Naval Commander, docked in Haiphong port city on May 19, 2012

Vietnam wish to strengthen cooperation with India in various fields, including economics, trade, investment, national defense and security, and education and training, Dung told Indian Minister.G. K. Vasan.

He said he hoped that the two countries will continue support each other at international forums, for the benefits of the two nations, the region and the world.

The PM also hailed the outcomes of talks between Vasan and Vietnamese Minister of Transport Dinh La Thang, saying that agreements reached by the two ministries during Vasan’s visit will make practical contributions to the two countries’ relations.

In reply, Vasan told Dung that India is willing to work with the Vietnamese side to bolster cooperation in fields of each side’s strength and that India considers Vietnam as a pillar in its Look East policy.

During his visit, the two ministries shared experiences and discussed solutions to port management and maritime transport, Vasan said.

Agreement signed

Earlier the same day, Vasan and Thang signed a bilateral cooperation agreement on shipping and trade.

The agreement will helps strengthen the maritime traffic between Vietnam and India, promoting bilateral economic and commercial exchanges, and creating opportunities for Vietnamese businesses to enter maritime markets in the region as well as the world...

The agreement will also boost cargo and passenger transportation between the two countries, allowing the presence of commercial representatives of freight companies of one country in the other country.

In addition, the agreement creates a foundation for both countries to speed up cooperation in building ships and training sailors and officials.

Tuoitre News

India to raise stakes in South China Sea

Despite Chinese unease about India’s growing energy ties with Vietnam, New Delhi is set to pump in $145.94 million in a gas field in the politically sensitive region.

Though this particular investment is not in an area where the Chinese have a territorial dispute with Vietnam, the Indian move does have strategic implications. The Union cabinet will consider this proposal on Thursday.

Geological exploration within block No.112 offshore Vietnam

The Indian investment is aimed at raising the stake of ONGC’s foreign arm OVL in the joint venture for gas field 06.1 in Nam Con Son basin off Vietnam’s south coast. Currently, OVL owns 45% stake while BP (British Petroleum) has 35% and PetroVietnam owns the remaining 20% share.

With BP exiting from the venture to raise money to offset the loss incurred in the Gulf of Mexico oil spill, OVL is eyeing the controlling stake in the venture. In fact, New Delhi had already used its diplomatic clout with Vietnam to ensure that OVL gets the chance to buy BP’s shares. Under Chinese pressure, Vietnam is keen to have as many foreign companies as possible in its energy sector, most of which are in the contested South China Sea.

Apart from two offshore gas fields, the venture also runs a pipeline and a power project.

In the past, China had raised serious objections to OVL’s participation in oil blocks 127 and 128 in South China Sea off Vietnam coast. While China claimed sovereignty in these areas, Vietnam cited its sovereignty rights over Blocks 127 and 128 according to the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, 1982.

“This particular gas block is not in a disputed area. We have been there for a while and this project is giving us good returns as well. It makes immense business sense to stay there and no political reasons are attached to the move,” an official, familiar with the development, said.

There are many potentially oil and gas-rich islands on the South China Sea, which are facing territorial disputes.

Hindustan Times