Indian Defence Minister pays official visit to VN
VGP – A high-level military delegation of India, headed by Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, is paying an official visit to Viet Nam from June 12 to 15 at the invitation of General Ngo Xuan Lich, Politburo member, Deputy Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Defense Minister.
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On the morning of June 13, Gen. Lich hosted an official welcoming ceremony for his Indian counterpart at the Defense Ministry’s headquarters in Ha Noi. The event also saw the presence of Indian Ambassador to Viet Nam Pavathaneni Harish.
During their talks later, the Vietnamese minister affirmed that the visit would contribute to strengthening the traditional friendly relations and comprehensive strategic partnership between Viet Nam and India, while facilitating bilateral defense collaboration for the benefits of each country’s people and for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and the world.
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The two sides discussed a number of international and regional issues of mutual concern, review the bilateral defense partnership over the past few years, and agreed on the measures to boost their defense ties in the time ahead.
They underscored the importance of maintaining the existing cooperation mechanisms, such as deputy ministerial-level defence policy dialogue, meetings of the Joint Working Group on bilateral defence cooperation, and consultations between Vietnamese and Indian officers of naval, land and air forces.
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The two ministers also focused their discussion on a number of cooperation areas between the two countries’ military forces, as well as cooperation in personnel training, defense industry, strategic research, post-war recovery and participation in the UN peacekeeping missions.
During their stay in Viet Nam, Defense Minister Sitharaman and members of the Indian delegation will attend the fourth Viet Nam – India Defence Industry Business Meeting and visit several units of the Viet Nam People’s Army.
By Vien Nhu
