India & Vietnam adopt action plan for strategic ties

India and Vietnam on Thursday firmed up an action plan to expand their strategic ties, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserting that both sides will work towards a free and rules-based Indo-Pacific and that New Delhi supports development and not “expansionism”. Modi’s stance could be an indirect message to China which has laid claim to most of the South China Sea region.

New Delhi and Vietnam signed a slew of agreements on enhancing comprehensive strategic partnership, cooperation in customs capacity building, radio and television, agriculture and credit line agreements.

After his wide-ranging talks with Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, Modi said the agreed USD 300 million credit line for Vietnam will strengthen the Southeast Asian nation’s maritime security.


“We have adopted a new plan of action to further strengthen our comprehensive strategic cooperation,” Modi said in his media statement in the presence of Chinh.

Modi said both sides will continue cooperation for a free, open, rules-based and prosperous Indo-Pacific. Vietnam is India’s important partner in its ‘Act East Policy’ and Indo-Pacific vision, he said.

“We support development, not expansionism (hum vistarbad nahi, vikasvad ka samarthan karte hain),” Modi said. The comments came amid growing global concerns over China’s expansionist behaviour in the South China Sea region.

Modi said various dimensions of India-Vietnam relations have both expanded and deepened in the last one decade. "In the last 10 years, we have transformed our relations into a comprehensive strategic partnership," he said.

The two leaders also agreed on a review and early conclusion of the ASEAN-India Trade in Goods Agreement for mutual trade potential.

"Buddhism is our shared heritage, which has connected the people of both countries at a spiritual level. We invite people from Vietnam to the Buddhist circuit in India. We want that the youth of Vietnam should also take advantage of Nalanda University," Modi said.

Chinh expressed gratitude towards the Indian leader for extending his condolences on former Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong's death and sending National Security Adviser Ajit Doval for his funeral. He also lauded India's important role during the Covid-19 pandemic in the distribution of vaccines, as Vietnam imported a large quantity of Indian medicines.

"The Indo-Pacific is a locomotive for growth in the world...We are at a time when there are intertwining opportunities and challenges. There are opportunities intertwined with challenges, but there are more challenges than opportunities...Prime Minister Modi and I are pleased to witness the immense gains in bilateral relations, especially since the establishment of the comprehensive strategic partnership," he said.

Chinh also congratulated Modi and the National Democratic Alliance (NDA) on a historic third term, saying that the latter's leadership will bring more benefits to the Indian people. "Under PM Modi's leadership, India has become the fifth largest economy in the world, one of the top powers with a striking global role," he said.

The Vietnamese Prime Minister also extended an invitation to Modi to visit Vietnam, saying the strategic partnership between the two countries has reached a new period.