Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi (Photo: VNA)

They promise to hold the next meeting of the ministerial-level Inter-Governmental Committee in the first half of 2018 in Hanoi to outline measures for the Action Programme until 2020 period. They will step up defence cooperation via English language training, technology transfer and financial credit for Vietnam. They also discussed ways to increase trade revenue to 15 billion USD by 2020 and boost aviation and maritime connectivity.

Mr. Phuc pledged favourable conditions for Indian enterprises to enhance economic and trade links, especially in infrastructure, information technology, mechanical engineering, energy, and the construction of industrial and high-tech agriculture. The two vowed to work closely together in multilateral forums, particularly within the United Nations framework, and stressed the importance of peace, stability, safety, maritime and aviation security and freedom, and the peaceful settlement of disputes with respect to international law, including the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea. Mr. Phuc praised India’s stance on the East Sea and welcomed further coordination with India in oil and gas exploration and exploitation in Vietnam’s economic exclusive zone and continental shelf.