Defence Minister General Ngô Xuân Lịch (L) meets yesterday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said that India wishes to maintain and boost friendship and co-operation with Việt Nam. — VNA/VNS Photo Huy Bình

NEW DEHI – Defence Minister General Ngô Xuân Lịch met yesterday with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi who said that India wishes to maintain and boost friendship and co-operation with Việt Nam.

PM Modi described General Lịch’s visit as a positive contribution to strengthening India- Viêt Nam ties as well as bilateral defence affiliation.

He said that India is a close friend of Việt Nam, adding that the country considers Vietnam as a top priority in its “Act East” policy.

India will continue forging closer ties with Viêt Nam in five major areas, including defence, thus tapping cooperation potential between the two countries and deepening the Viêt Nam-India comprehensive partnership, said the PM.

General Lịch expressed delight at India’s strong growth, which has helped the country rise as a world power.

He thanked the Government and people of India for their support to Viêt Nam during the struggle for independence and for the cause of national defence and construction. He briefed his host on the outcomes of defence cooperation between the two countries, lauding the support of the Indian Government and PM Modi for the two Defence Ministries to foster their affiliation.

The people and army of Việt Nam will exert efforts to maintain and reinforce the sound traditional friendship between the two countries, which was founded by late Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and President Hồ Chí Minh.

Large potential for defence ties

There is plenty of room for Việt Nam and India to deepen bilateral defence co-operation based on their comprehensive strategic partnership.

Lieutenant General Vũ Chiến Thắng, Director of the Foreign Relations Department under the Ministry of Defence, made the statement in an interview granted to Vietnam News Agency on the occasion of Defence Minister Ngô Xuân Lịch’s visit to India from December 4-7.

Thắng noted that Minister Lịch and his Indian counterpart Manohar Parrikar agreed during their meeting to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially among young officials, for deeper mutual understanding and experience sharing.

The two ministers also consented to carry out the US$500 million credit package that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged for Việt Nam during his recent visit to the Southeast Asian country, as well as re-evaluate India’s $100 million defence credit package for Việt Nam.

India vowed to continue assisting Việt Nam in the training of pilots and information technology officials training and sharing experience on UN peacekeeping activities.

Both sides agreed to soon implement the $5.45 million aid package announced by the Indian Prime Minister to realise the second phase of the software park project in Nha Trang City of the central coastal province of Khánh Hòa.

He stressed Việt Nam supports the Act East policy of India, while India considers Việt Nam an important pillar in this policy.

Việt Nam is willing to support India to expand relations with other ASEAN member states and make contributions to peace and stability in the region, the official added. — VNS