India -Vietnam Virtual Summit-Expectations and Outcome

India has outlined the need for strengthening Vietnam’s capacities in the field of defence, nuclear energy, UN peacekeeping operations, defence industry and research, under taking initiatives related to cyber-crimes and developing maritime awareness in relation to terrorism, humanitarian assistance, water security and conservation, and also addressing pandemics. One of the areas where both countries have expressed interest in working together has been in the field of economic cooperation and developing synergies in the context of blue economy. Exchanges between medium and small enterprises of the two countries have been stressed. As both countries have been focusing much on agriculture and improving farming techniques therefore possibilities of interaction between farming communities of the two countries have also been envisaged.

Vietnam and India have been working on climate change and mitigating its effects particularly in the coastal areas. Efforts have been undertaken by both sides to gradually switch to renewable energy sources and also develop technologies for the efficient use of fossil fuels. In this regard India's initiative related to International Solar Alliance in which Vietnam has also expressed its interest in participating, would be a new area where the subscription of the International Solar Alliance (ISA) would expand to the Southeast Asian countries. India has already expressed that it wants to undertake 10 projects which will deal with water security and developing technical expertise in the related areas as Quick Impact Projects (QIP).

During the meeting Prime Minister Modi expressed that India strongly supports peace and tranquillity in the South China Sea, and also developing a binding Code of Conduct in the region which should be under the provisions of the 1982 UNCLOS. While finding synergies between the ASEAN Outlook on Indo-Pacific (AOIP) and India's proposal of Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) it was found that intrinsic convergence exists in the field of maritime trade, disaster management, maritime security and rule of law at sea. Between the two sides the stress on development and prosperity has brought more possibilities on the table.

In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic it has been found that Vietnam has been on the forefront off addressing the economic impact, and has been first off, the block for economic recovery plan. During the Vietnam chairmanship of ASEAN, it has clearly been earmarked that network of health professionals and medical research institutes should be promoted as well as training of these health professionals and logistical support for the vaccine distribution is required. Therefore, there must be plan in advance for larger vaccine distribution and vaccination.

India has all for long time proposed that traditional medicine particularly in the field of Ayurveda and also promoting Yoga would lead to better immunity and bring about community resistance which can encounter the pandemics. During the meeting it was agreed that the two countries would release an encyclopedia of the India Vietnam cultural and civilisational links. This has been done so as to explore the Buddhist circuit and also restoration of the heritage buildings having religious and cultural significance. This will also promote tourism between the two countries and bring about more people-to-people interactions at different levels.

One of the major achievements has been adopting the joint plan of action for the period 2021-2023 which would undertake measures and projects to enhance partnership between the two countries. One of the elements of cooperation between the two countries has been in the defence domain and also in space sector. Vietnam has been developing its armed forces and has been procuring modern state of the art defence systems so as to achieve the required targets in its modernisation plan. In support of this initiative India has already enhanced its lines of credit to Vietnam to US $ 100 million and Indian company Larsen and Toubro what we providing 12 fast patrol boats to the Vietnamese border guards. Out of these five patrol boats would be fabricated in India while the rest seven will be developed in Vietnam.

Prime Minister Modi in his opening speech stated that there are different aspects of the relationship but the stress has been more on peace stability and prosperity in the Indo- Pacific region. He added that in areas such as scientific research, nuclear energy, renewable energy and cancer treatment could open new vistas for cooperation.

During the meeting seven MOUs were signed which included defence industry cooperation, army software park, training arrangement between United Nations peacekeeping operations of the two countries, petroleum research, and medical research in the field of cancer treatment. The completion of 7 development project in which India has provided grant in aid assistance of US dollars 1.5 million showcased increasing convergence between the two sides. The cultural aspect which has been left unexplored to a large extent found resonance in this virtual summit. The encyclopaedia on cultural and civilization linkages would bring new visitors and stakeholders for research and heritage conservation.

Prime Minister Modi has clearly enunciated that Vietnam is an emerging economy and cooperation between India and Vietnam would give dividends in the long run. The vision plan for three years shows the futuristic perspective, and provides newer cooperation in different fields. This virtual summit has buttressed the trust and confidence that the two countries have between them. 

Pic Courtesy- Vietnam News Agency

(The views expressed are personal.)