The time-honoured friendship between Vietnam and India had formed from the first decades of the 20th century which was founded by late Prime Minister Jawaharlan Nehru and late President Ho Chi Minh and has been painstakingly cultivated by generations of leaders and people from both countries.
The two countries established diplomatic relations in 1972. India strongly supported Vietnam in the past struggle for national independence, and reunification as well as in the current Doi Moi (Renewal) and development process.
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| PM Nguyen Tan Dung met with President Pranab Mukherjee during the latter's Vietnam visit in September 2014. |
Meanwhile, Vietnam visits were conducted by Indian Vice President Hamid Ansari in 2013, Foreign Minister Sushma Swaraj in August 2014, President Pranab Mukherjee in September 2014 and Prime Minister Narendra Modi recently visited Vietnam.
The two nations often hold regular meetings on cooperation mechanisms such as the Vietnam-India Intergovernmental Committee and the Joint Trade Subcommittee.
The Vietnam-India strategic partnership has blossomed in five areas: politics, economics, security-defence, science-technology and culture-education.
India attaches great importance to developing relations with Vietnam and Vietnam is considered an important pillar in its “Look East” policy.
On the basis of sound political relations, bilateral cooperation in a multitude of areas in other fields has also flourished. Two-way trade has increased over the years since both nations established strategic partnership in 2007.
They have become important trade partners of each other with bilateral trade volume reaching US$5.23 billion in 2013, up 32% over 2012.
The two countries are targeting to raise bilateral trade to US$15 billion by 2020.
Vietnamese staple exports to India include components, chemicals, wood and timber products, iron and steel, coal, agricultural products, vehicles and spare parts, garments and footwear.
Investment between the two nations show positive signs and is expected to grow rapidly in the future when Indian TATA Group carries out the Long Phu thermal power project worth US$1.8 billion in southern Soc Trang province. As of May 2014, India has poured US$273 million in 73 investment projects in Vietnam.
In terms of cultural and educational cooperation, India is helping Vietnam with the training of high quality human resources in the fields of information technology, economics, law and English teaching.
Regular cultural exchange programs have enhanced mutual understanding between the two peoples. India is accelerating the early opening of an Indian Cultural Centre in Hanoi.
Vietnam and India have always closely coordinated and offered mutual support at regional and international forums like the UN, ASEAN, ARF, ADMM and RCEP. India backed Vietnam’s candidacy as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council for the 2020 -2021 term.
Vietnam has supported India in joining the UN Security Council for next term and running for a seat as a permanent member when the UN Security Council is expanded.
PM Dung’s visit is also designed to further develop cooperation in various fields- science, technology, culture, education, tourism and aviation.
During the visit, the two sides will also discuss regional and international issues of common concern.
Regarding the East Sea issue, during the State-level visit to Vietnam by Indian President Pranab Mukherjee last September, the two sides affirmed their desire and determination to work together to maintain peace, stability, growth and prosperity in Asia.
They agreed that freedom of navigation in the East Sea can not be impeded and called the concerned parties to exercise restraint, avoid the threat to use of force and settle disputes through peaceful means in accordance with the principles of globally recognized international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982 (UNCLOS) and the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) towards the formulation of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea (COC) on the basis of consensus.
India has pledged its continued cooperation with Vietnam in oil exploration in the waters of Vietnam in the East Sea.
During his upcoming visit, PM Dung is scheduled to have talks with Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi, meet with President Pranab Mukherjee, give a speech at the Vietnam-India Business Forum and visit a number of cultural and historical sites.
