Vietnam, India foster defence ties
Indian high-ranking military officers have affirmed that India will continue to assist Vietnam in military training, human resource development and sharing of information.
Indian Defence Secretary Shashi Kant Sharma and Minister of State for Defence Pallam Raju made the commitments during separate meetings with Vietnamese Deputy Defence Minister Lieut. Gen. Nguyen Chi Vinh, who accompanied President Truong Tan Sang on a state-level visit to India from October 11-13.
Lieut. Gen. Vinh spoke highly of traditional friendly relations between Vietnam and India, including bilateral cooperation in national defence.
He took the occasion to thank the Indian Government and army for their assistance to Vietnam in personnel training, describing it a bright spot in the two countries’ defence relations
Both Sharma and Raju said India will actively participate in regional security forums, particularly the ASEAN Regional Forum (ARF) and the ASEAN Defence Ministers Meeting Plus (ADMM+), of which India is a member.
In another development, a direct service between Vietnam and India is on the cards following a memorandum of understanding signed between Vietnam Airlines and India's largest private carrier, Jet Airways.
Under the MoU for comprehensive co-operation signed in New Delhi on October 12 during the ongoing visit by President Truong Tan Sang, the carriers will jointly evaluate the possibility of direct services which will significantly contribute to the development of bilateral investment, trade, and tourism relations and a strategic partnership.