Context:-

India and Vietnamese officials held the third Maritime Security Dialogue in New Delhi on 31st May.

An overview of the news

• Both sides discussed ways to better maintain the marine environment which is helpful for the inclusive development of both the countries.
• Senior officials from ministries and services dealing with maritime affairs participated in the dialogue.
• The two sides also reviewed initiatives for maritime cooperation and ways to strengthen international and regional mechanisms for comprehensive maritime security.
• The second India-Vietnam Maritime Security Dialogue was to be held in virtual format in April 2021 after the first round was held in Hanoi in March 2019.

India, Vietnam Relation                                    

• Vietnam has become an important partner in India’s Act East policy and the Indo-Pacific vision as both countries have disputes with China.
• Vietnam is involved in a dispute with China on the South China Sea Island. China  claims nearly all of the disputed South China Sea islands, though Taiwan, the Philippines, Brunei, Malaysia and Vietnam all claim parts of it. Beijing has built artificial islands and military installations in the South China Sea.
• India favours free and open navigation right in the South China Sea which is threatened by China.
• India has oil exploration projects in the Vietnamese waters in the South China Sea. India and Vietnam are boosting their maritime security cooperation in the last few years to protect common interests.
• In 2016, during Prime Minister Modi’s visit to Vietnam, the bilateral relations were further elevated to a “comprehensive strategic partnership”.
• India and Vietnam signed an important Joint Vision Statement on Defence partnership during the visit of the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to Vietnam on 8 June 2022.
• During the Defence minister’s visit India provided a $500 million Defence loan to Vietnam.

About Vietnam

• It lies in South East Asia and it is a member of Association of Southeast Asian Nation (ASEAN)
• Prime Minister: Pham Minh Chinh
• Capital: Hanoi
• President: Vo Van Thuong
• Currency: Dong

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