Vietnam supports ASEAN – India strategic partnership

Vietnamese Deputy Foreign Minister Pham Quang Vinh has affirmed Vietnam’s support for the increased ASEAN – India strategic partnership in various fields at their fifth annual dialogue which concluded in New Delhi, India, on February 20.

Addressing the two-day event, Vinh said the dialogue takes place in the context that the region is facing opportunities and challenges.

He added that while the region is striving to maintain peace and stability as well as boost economic connectivity, it is also coping with increasingly complicated challenges, including non-traditional security challenges such as natural disasters, epidemics, climate change, energy and food security, and trans-national crime.

In such context, ASEAN’s role in Community building as well as in its contribution to building an environment for stability and development cooperation is crucial. For this reason, ASEAN highly values India ’s role in such joint effort, Vinh said.

Vinh also stressed the need to grasp an overall picture of regional situation and existing strong foundation between ASEAN and India , as well as recognize challenges relating to regional peace and security, including traditional and non-traditional security, and economic opportunities and potentials.

The Deputy FM said he hopes ASEAN members and other nations, including India, will support the joint effort between ASEAN and related countries in ensuring peace, stability and maritime security and safety in the East Sea as well as the settlement of disputes by peaceful means on the basis of respecting international law and conventions on the law of the sea, including the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea (DOC) and the ASE AN’s Six-Point Principles.-VNA