New Delhi: Amid China’s aggressive posturing in the Asia-Pacific region and South China Sea (SCS), India and Vietnam discussed “concrete and feasible” steps to protect their interests and sought to bolster their strategic bilateral ties.
Deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Vietnam Pham Binh Minh who concluded his four-day visit to India on Thursday said the two sides discussed the progress of implementation of high-level agreements for a stable and facilitating framework to help their relations grow “substantively”.
The Vietnamese leader said many of India’s major corporations were investing in projects in Vietnam, like the Tatas in Long Phu II thermal power plant in Soc Trang and ONGC Videsh in oil and gas exploration on Vietnam’s continental shelf.”
China has been objecting to India’s oil exploration projects in maritime areas offered by Vietnam in the SCS.
However, India has been dismissive of Chinese objections, insisting its cooperation with Vietnam was as per international laws and that it would like the cooperation to grow.
