Vietnam, India boost defence cooperation
VOV.VN - Vietnam and India will get down to work on bilateral defence cooperation programmes as soon as the COVID-19 pandemic is completely contained.
Accordingly, both sides will further promote cooperation in military medicine, UN peacekeeping, defense industry, and human resource training among other issues.
The agreement was reached during phone talks on November 27 between Minister of National Defense of Vietnam, General Ngo Xuan Lich, and his Indian counterpart Rajnath Singh.
The two ministers shared the view that over the past years, the comprehensive strategic partnership between Vietnam and India has developed constantly, bringing good benefits to the two countries’ people, and making an important contribution to peacekeeping, stability and development in the region and the rest of the world.
They informed each other about the results of COVID-19 prevention and control in each country, and highly appreciated the efforts the two sides have made in cushioning the impact of the epidemic, as well as in implementing bilateral defense cooperation programmes.
General Lich congratulated India on its being elected as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2021-2022 period. He thanked India for its support and good coordination in 2020 when Vietnam assumed the dual role of ASEAN Chair and a non-permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, especially within the framework of the ASEAN Defense Ministers Meeting (ADMM +).
Minister Lich invited Minister Singh to attend ADMM + Conference, and the 10th Anniversary of ADMM + due to be held virtually in December 2020. He also invited Minister Singh to visit Vietnam after the COVID-19 outbreak is completely brought controlled, and the Indian Minister accepted the invitation with pleasure.
After the talks, both ministers witnessed the signing of an agreement on hydrology cooperation between the two countries.