Hanoi (VNA) –Vietnam is the focus of India’s Act East policy, affirmed Indian Ambassador toVietnam Parvathaneni Harish in an exclusive interview with the Vietnam News Agency on threshold of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’svisit to attend the ASEAN-India Commemorative Summit and the 69th anniversaryof the Republic Day of India.

Following is the full text ofthe interview.

Q: Could you please share thepurposes and meaning of Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc’s visit to India duringthe India-ASEAN Commemorative Summit from 24-26 January 2018?

A: H.E.Mr. Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Prime Minister of Vietnam is visiting India as a ChiefGuest for the Republic Day of India along with 9 other Heads ofState/Government of ASEAN Member States to celebrate 25 years of theIndia-ASEAN Dialogue Partnership and to take part in the ASEAN-IndiaCommemorative Summit on 25 January 2018.  The Prime Minister would be accompanied by ahigh level delegation of Ministers and Vice Ministers of different Ministriesand Departments of the Government of Vietnam. There would be bilateral delegation level talks between Prime MinisterModi and Prime Minister Phuc and we expect signing of a fewAgreements/Memoranda of Understanding on key areas of bilateral cooperationthat would further strengthen the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership betweenthe two countries.   

Q: ASEAN and India establishedthe relations in 1992 and after 25 years, the two sides have set up 30 dialoguemechanisms, including summits and ministerial meetings of many areas. In the period 2015-2018, Vietnam is thecoordinator of the relations between ASEAN and India. What is your opinion for the relations and Vietnam’srole?

A: ASEANis important to India in terms of historical linkages, geographical proximity,cultural ties and the strategic space that we share. It is our extendedneighbourhood. Vietnam, an active member of ASEAN is also central to our ‘ActEast’ Policy and Vietnam’s role as coordinating country for the India-ASEANrelationship since August 2015 (until 2018) has led to greater engagementbetween our two countries. As we celebrate the 25th anniversary of India-ASEANDialogue Partnership this year, our two countries have worked in closecooperation to make the many commemorative events successful. These events willculminate in the Commemorative Summit to be held on January 25 2018. Thisunprecedented initiative is aimed at strengthening ASEAN’s unity andcentrality.

The Act East policy became a pivot by broadening India’s relation withASEAN to defence and security cooperation. Our External Affairs Minister Mrs.Sushma Swaraj has said that the important markers in our engagement with ASEAN inenhancing our strategic ties are the 3 Cs - Commerce, Connectivity and Culture.India and ASEAN countries are maritime nations, with a rich and glorioushistory of maritime trade. We have energised our ancient links in acontemporary setting, to become a driving force in Asia's resurgence.

[PM’s vi🔥sit to India helps foster political trust]

As a mature and responsible nation, one of our foreign policy interests,is to evolve a regional architecture based on the twin principles of sharedsecurity, and shared prosperity. There is complete convergence between Vietnamand India in this regard. This was enunciated by our Prime Minister Mr. NarendraModi in 2015, in his vision of SAGAR (in Hindi it means ‘Ocean’), which standsfor “Security and Growth for All in the Region”. It recognises the central roleplayed by the seas and oceans around us in promoting sustainable economicprogress in a secure and stable environment.

The Indo Pacific region is increasingly seen as a connectivity pathway -much of the world’s trade passes through these oceans. These waters must notonly get better connected, but remain free from traditional and non-traditionalthreats.

Q: Can you share potentials ofcooperation between India-ASEAN in general and India-Vietnam in particular?

A: India and ASEAN share a common vision for global commerce andmaritime domain. We look forward to working closely with ASEAN in a range ofactivities including to develop the Blue Economy, in coastal surveillance, inbuilding off- shore patrolling and humanitarian search and rescue capabilities,hydrographic services, and information sharing for increased maritime domainawareness.

A deeper economic integration with the dynamic ASEAN region, is animportant aspect of our Act East Policy. ASEAN is India's 4th largest tradingpartner, accounting for over 10 percent of India’s total trade. India isASEAN's 7th largest trading partner. Trade has registered an 8 percent increasein 2016-17, as compared to the previous year. Investment flows have alsoremained robust. It is our constant endeavour to promote interaction and dialogueamong ASEAN and Indian business and industry to further enhance bilateral economicengagement. We have also established a Project Development Fund to encourageIndian companies to develop manufacturing hubs in CLMV countries(Cambodia-Laos-Myanmar-Vietnam). Our offer of a 1 billion USD Line of Credit isanother important initiative to enhance physical and digital connectivitybetween india and ASEAN Member States.

While physical & digital connectivity initiatives are poised toseamlessly integrate us into a greater Indo-ASEAN community, our sharedcultural heritage remains a strong emotional bond that binds us. We are focusedon promoting greater collaboration among our educational and training institutions,making available greater scholarships and training opportunities to ourpartners in ASEAN, initiating new Development Partnership projects and investingin the future of our relationship, especially our youth. During the past yearof so many milestones in our relations with Vietnam and ASEAN, we haveaccomplished numerous people-to-people exchanges which is the real bedrock ofour friendship.

As far as Vietnam is concerned, we see huge potential for ourrelationship, especially since its elevation to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership. Our bilateral trade has seen continuousgrowth over the past many years, and during 2016-17 has exceeded 10 billion USDfor the first time, registering a 30 percent increase over the previousyear. Vietnam is the fourth largest tradingpartner of India amongst ASEAN countries and India is among the top ten tradingpartners of Vietnam. We are making allefforts to meet the trade target set by our leaders of 15 billion USD by2020. Many members of Indian businessand industry are looking to invest in Vietnam in various sectors including oiland gas, renewable energy such as solar and wind, agriculture andagro-businesses, minerals and mining and textiles. Both countries have strong defence andsecurity cooperation that are strong pillars of our strategic partnership. Education and training cooperation betweenvarious wings of our armed forces and defence industry cooperation are emergingas areas of huge potential.  Both countriesalso have active cooperation in the peaceful uses of outer space and atomicenergy, science and technology cooperation, cooperation in cyber security andinformation technology.

Our cultural cooperation has received a significant boost with the openingof an Indian Cultural Centre in Hanoi. An Archaeological Survey of India team is currently in the process ofrestoration and conservation of the UNESCO world heritage site at My Son.  Their work at the site last year hasunearthed numerous artefacts. The hugepopularity of yoga and the participation of thousands of Vietnamese duringInternational Day of Yoga celebrations and enhanced tourist exchanges in therecent past are further evidence of growing cultural engagement andpeople-to-people interaction. - VNA