Vietnam seeks deepened security cooperation with India Vietnam wants to deepen cooperation with India in all fields on the basis of their special trust, particularly in national defence and security, according to Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung. At his meeting on April 3 with India’s national security adviser Ajit Kumar Doval, who has been on a visit to Vietnam, the PM said Vietnam and India has a special friendship relationship that has been built up through many generations of leaders. He affirmed that Vietnam always remember the great support and assistance the Indian people gave to Vietnam during its struggle for independence as well as national reconstruction. The PM made it clear that Vietnam supports India’s “Act East” policy as well as its strengthening of strategic partnership with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations. While suggesting the two sides should boost cooperation in all fields from politics-foreign affairs to economy-trade and investment, the PM asked India to increase cooperation with Vietnam in defence and military technology, particularly in personnel training in the air force, navy and intelligence. He also wanted stronger cooperation in cyber security and preventing and fighting terrorism and hi-tech crimes. Ajit Kumar Doval said India will be always a companion with Vietnam in any circumstances and a stable, developed and prosperous Vietnam is of India’s interest. The adviser affirmed India would do all it can to assist Vietnam in defence and security, specifically defence industry, military technology, intelligence, personnel training, cybercrimes and cybersecurity. Regarding East Sea issues, Ajit Kumar Doval reiterated India’s stance that ensuring navigation freedom in the East Sea is of great importance and that India would not accept any unilateral action to change the status quo. All disagreements and disputes must be solved through peaceful measures in conformity with international law, he said, adding that this point of view has been affirmed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at all international forums. Deputy PM greets Indian National Security Adviser Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Pham Binh Minh hosted a reception for India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Kumar Doval in Hanoi on April 3, during which he declared that Vietnam consistently attaches great importance to developing traditional friendship and strategic partnership with India. Vietnam supports India’s Act East Policy and its connections with the region and the world, while backing the country’s bid to become a permanent member of an expanded United Nations Security Council, he stated. He suggested that the two sides promote the efficiency of existing cooperation mechanisms, including the Inter-Governmental Committee, political consultations, strategic dialogues defence policy dialogues and sub-committees on affiliation in trade, science, technology and education. Both sides should work harder together to raise two-way trade to 15 billion USD by 2020 as defined by leaders of both countries, he said. He also expressed hope that Vietnam and India continue their close coordination at regional and international forums, including the United Nations, Non-Aligned Movement, ASEAN and related forums, as well as sub-regional partnership mechanisms and during the process of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership negotiations. He proposed that India continue supporting the stance of ASEAN and Vietnam on the East Sea issue, vowing that Vietnam backs India companies in exploring and exploiting oil and gas in Vietnam’s waters in the East Sea. On his part, Ajit Kumar Doval affirmed that Vietnam is a key pillar in his country’s Act East Policy, agreeing that both sides should enhance cooperation in all fields from politics, economy, defence and security to education, culture and people-to-people contacts. He stated that India supports the maintenance of peace, stability as well as maritime and aviation security, safety and freedom in the East Sea, as well as the settling of disputes through peaceful measures without using or threatening to use forces, on the basis of international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. It is crucial to fully observe the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and work toward the early building of a Code of Conduct in the East Sea, he said. VNA