For Vietnamese version, please read here.
Q 1. Can you specify the priorities in India-Vietnam relations during your tenure?
Vietnam is one of our most trusted friends and closest partners. Today, India and Vietnam are Comprehensive Strategic Partners, which means that there is a wide range of areas in which we are cooperating – ranging from political engagement to trade and investment ties, development partnership, defence and security cooperation and people to people relations.
In such a wide-ranging canvas, there are clearly areas where we can raise the ambition of existing cooperation, including our trade and investment ties, and our tourism exchanges, all of which have shown significant growth in recent years, yet remain below their potential.
Among my priorities, better connectivity between our two countries clearly comes at the top. Without connectivity, we cannot help our engagements achieve their full potential. We are happy that direct flights between India and Vietnam have been recentlylaunched. We are hopeful that it would assist in promoting our tourism, trade and investment, as well as people-to-people ties.
Second, I would like to deepen our development partnership with Vietnam, which has a long history of almost five decades. We would like to contribute to Vietnam’s development and reach out to the people of Vietnam in a meaningful way through developmental infrastructure and capacity building programmes.
We also look forward to further deepening our defence partnership, which has today diversified from traditional contact between our two militaries to newer areas such as defence industry and technology cooperation.
During my tenure, Vietnam will be the Chair of ASEAN as well as a member of the UN Security Council. This allows us significant opportunities for closer consultations on regional and international issues of common interest. I also look forward to greater engagement between India and Vietnam in practical regional cooperation under the rubric of India’s Indo-Pacific Vision.
Q 2. What is your impression on Vietnam and its people? Are there any differences from the countries where you have been posted?
Vietnam and its people are greatly admired in India for the courage and determination with which they have overcome the adversities to make Vietnam a rapidly developing modern nation. Similarly, I have found that there is tremendous warmth about India among the people of Vietnam. Vietnam offers a unique blend of rich history and natural beauty. I have found the people of Vietnam to be energetic, industrious and hardworking. However, what has struck me the most is their enthusiasm and confidence about their future. The whole nation exudes the dynamism that reflects its status as one of the fastest growing economies in the world.
Q 3. Around 40% of Indian trade goes through the South China Sea. What is India’s perspective on recent disputes in this region? And India and Vietnam cooperation in this region (if any)?
India’s position on the South China Sea issue is clear and consistent and has been articulated on several occasions in the past. South China Sea is an important international waterway. India, therefore, has an abiding interest in the peace and stability of the region. India firmly stands for the freedom of navigation and overflight, and unimpeded lawful commerce, in the international waters in accordance with international laws, notably the UNCLOS. India also believes that any differences must be resolved peacefully by respecting legal and diplomatic processes and without resorting to threat or use of force. India stands ready to work with international partners, including Vietnam, to maintain and promote peace, stability and development in the Indo-Pacific region.
Q 4. In 2020, Vietnam will be the Chair of ASEAN and non-permanent member of the UNSC, can you share your opinion?
In 2020, Vietnam will have the unique opportunity to simultaneously assume the leadership of ASEAN and the membership of the UN Security Council. These two responsibilities will provide an important platform for Vietnam to make significant contributions to global and regional peace, stability and development. Vietnam has played the role of an active and responsible member of the international community by making contributions in diverse areas such as UN peacekeeping operations, sustainable development goals, promotion of multilateralism etc. India stands ready and looks forward to work closely with Vietnam to help it fully realize the objectives of its twin responsibilities as the chairman of ASEAN and Member of UN Security Council.
Q 5. What does India expect from Vietnam as a bridge in expanding India’s relations with ASEAN in the fields of politics and trade?
Vietnam is a key pillar of India’s Act East Policy and an important partner in India’s Indo-Pacific Vision. Our bilateral ties are based on strong mutual trust and understanding, and on strong convergence of views on various regional and international issues.
We are also closely engaged with ASEAN. As Strategic Partners, India has important political and economic engagements with ASEAN and a common interest in the peace, stability and prosperity of our shared region. Based on our deep civilisation contacts with the region and guided by our Act East Policy and the Indo-Pacific Vision, India looks forward to building ever closer links with ASEAN through enhanced connectivity, commerce and cultural exchanges. We are confident that under the chairmanship of Vietnam, which is one of our foremost partners in the region, our efforts to deepen engagement with ASEAN will be even more productive.
***
(Economic and Urban Newspaper is the Vietnamese version of Hanoi Times)
