PM Modi and Vietnam's Pham Minh Chinh Expand Strategic Partnership

Key Highlights:

Strengthened Ties: Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh met to bolster the strategic partnership between their nations.
Visit Details: Chinh’s three-day visit to India focused on deepening bilateral relations and strategic cooperation.
Historic Gesture: India’s gifting of the INS Kirpan missile corvette to Vietnam underscores the growing defense ties.
Maritime Security: Both nations are enhancing maritime security cooperation amid concerns over China’s actions in the South China Sea.

Key Meeting Details

On Thursday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Vietnamese Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh held comprehensive talks aimed at further expanding their nations’ strategic partnership. The meeting occurred during Chinh’s three-day visit to India, which commenced on Tuesday night.

Expanding Bilateral Relations

During the visit, Modi extended a warm welcome to Chinh at Hyderabad House, as confirmed by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on ‘X’. The discussions focused on energizing the India-Vietnam Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, reflecting the countries’ commitment to strengthening their bilateral ties.

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Recent Developments in Strategic Ties

The strategic partnership between India and Vietnam has seen significant growth in recent years. Notably, in July of the previous year, India gifted the INS Kirpan, an in-service missile corvette, to Vietnam. This gesture marked the first time India had handed over a fully operational corvette to a foreign country, emphasizing the deepening defense and strategic cooperation.

Maritime Security Cooperation

Vietnam, a key ASEAN member, has territorial disputes with China in the South China Sea. India has oil exploration projects in this region, and both nations are actively enhancing their maritime security cooperation to safeguard their shared interests amidst the increasing assertiveness of China in the area.

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