PM Modi's China visit unlikely to affect India's stand on South China sea dispute, says Vietnam

HANOI: As Prime Minister Narendra Modi embarks on a three-day visit to China starting Thursday, Vietnam is confident that the growing economic cooperation between the two countries will not affect India’s position on the South China sea dispute.

Speaking to a delegation of Indian journalists, Le Van Nghiem, director general, directorate of external information, said that his country is hopeful that India will continue to extend its support, especially in the dispute over the South China sea.

In the recent years, India has become increasingly more vocal about what it feels is the correct way to resolve this problem of maritime security, in which five countries are locked in a bitter territorial dispute with China. Last year, in a joint statement, the prime ministers of India and Vietnam agreed “freedom of navigation and overflight in the East Sea should not be impeded and called the parties concerned to exercise restraint, avoid threats or use of force”.

India has also extended a $100 million concessional line of credit (LoC) to Vietnam for the purchase of new boats, which will be used to patrol its waters. “We are really happy with Indian intervention in support of Vietnam,” Ngheim told reporters.

"We don't know if the issue of marine security in southeast Asia will be raised in the meeting between PM Narendra Modi with his counterpart in China. But if it is, we will welcome this move. Both India and Vietnam share an interest in resolving this issue through peaceful means,” he added. Ngheim, however, quickly caveated his statement saying, “We know and understand that every country attaches importance to its economic relations with China and therefore could be reluctant to raise uncomfortable questions.”

Vietnam is currently celebrating 40 years of its reunification and is eager to host PM Modi this year to strengthen cooperation in areas of trade, defence and tourism. “Our Prime Minister (Nguyen Tan Dung) has already extended invitation to Mr Narendra Modi when he visited India in October last year. The invitation has been accepted and we expect the Indian Prime Minister here later this year,” Nghiem added.

(ET was in Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City on the invitation of the Vietnamese Government)