Wednesday, October 12, 2011

India, Vietnam to deepen defence, strategic ties

India and Vietnam will seek to deepen strategic and defence ties apart from inking a couple of pacts, including an extradition treaty, during the visit of Vietnamese President Truong Tan Sang who arrived in the country on Tuesday for a three-day tour.
Sang will hold comprehensive talks with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Wednesday during which both leaders will discuss all international, regional and bilateral issues of "mutual interest", including the ways to strengthen ties in the area of oil and natural gas exploration.
Asserting that the relationship with Vietnam was not directed against China, official spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs said the two leaders will discuss entire gamut of relationship which will include cooperation in hydercarbon sector also.
He was asked if India will talk about strengthening of ties in energy sector in the wake of recent objections by China.
Irked by the Indian exploration projects on Vietnamese blocks in South China Sea, Chinese authorities have raised objections claiming that it was in their area.
The Chinese claim on the South China Sea has been rejected by both India and Vietnam, saying as per the UN the blocks belong to Vietnam.
India has also made it clear that its state-owned firm would continue to explore in the resource-rich South China Sea.

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