The recent 17th meeting of India-Vietnam Joint Commission on Trade, Economic, Scientific and Technological Cooperation flagged an important development in the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (since 2016). This meeting facilitated thorough discussions planning the future course of their broad-ranging engagement.
Indo-Pacific Region: Strengthening Bilateral Cooperation
In light of increased aggressiveness from China in the Indo-Pacific region, including the South China Sea region and along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with India, both nations agreed to bolster their bilateral cooperation. The agreement aligns with India’s Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative (IPOI) and the ASEAN’s Outlook on the Indo-Pacific. It aims at achieving shared security, prosperity and growth for all parties involved in the region.
Indo-Pacific Oceans Initiative
The IPOI was launched by the Prime Minister of India at the East Asia Summit in November 2019. This initiative focuses on seven central pillars namely Maritime Security, Maritime Ecology, Maritime Resources, Capacity Building and Resource Sharing, Disaster Risk Reduction and Management, Science Technology and Academic Cooperation, and Trade Connectivity and Maritime Transport.
Cooperation at Multilateral and Regional Forums
India and Vietnam concurred on the need for close coordination at multilateral forums, notably the UN Security Council where both countries will serve concurrently as non-permanent members in 2021. They also decided to enhance cooperation and coordination at essential regional forums under the ASEAN framework. India showed appreciation for Vietnam’s leadership provided to ASEAN during the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 when Vietnam was the chair of ASEAN.
Economic Engagement
Emerging areas such as civil nuclear energy, space, marine sciences, and new technologies were identified as potential areas for closer cooperation between India and Vietnam. India extended an invitation to Vietnam in leveraging India’s new economic capacities and demands. India affirmed its vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat aimed at enhancing resilience through self-reliance and promoting human-centric globalisation for economic revival.
Development Initiatives and Assistance
India reassured Vietnam of its development and capacity building assistance through initiatives such as Quick Impact Projects (QIP), Indian Technical and Economic Cooperation (ITEC) and e-ITEC initiatives, Ph.D. fellowships, water resource management projects in Vietnam’s Mekong Delta region, SDGs, digital connectivity and heritage conservation.
The Way Forward
Vietnam plays a key role in India’s Act East policy with immense scope for further cooperation. The close relationship between the two countries has strategic implications for maintaining balance in South East Asia where China has been increasingly active.
